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JOURNAL 

OR 

Historical Recollections 

OF 

AMERICAN EVENTS 

DURING 

The Revolutionary War 

BY 

ELIAS BOUDINOT 

President of the Continental Congress, Commissary General 
of Prisoners in the Army of America during the Revo- 
lutionary War, Director of the Mint, etc. 



Copied from His Oiun Original Manuscript. 



PHII,ADEI,PHIA 

FREDERICK BOURQUIN 
1894 



*1 



Edition limited to 315 copies, 
of which 
25 are large-paper quarto 
290 are royal octavo. 



This copy is Number 



9> 




'»-^*\ 



y' 



.'Bib'" 



B. J. BICKING 

PRINTER 

TBMTH AND MARKET STS 

PHILADELPHIA. 



h 



i'r 



REMARKS. 



This Journal or Diary of Events which occur- 
red during our Revohitionary War, is published, 
verbatim, literatim et puiictuatim, from a faithful 
copy, made in 1874, of the original Journal writ- 
ten by Elias Boudinot, and which was then in the 
possession of Joseph J. Mickley, of Philadelphia. 
That the publication of the same is merely carry- 
ing out the desire of the author, who wished to 
bequeath to posterity a true and ungarbled ac- 
count of the important occurrences of those times, 
is attested to by himself, in the early pages of the 
Journal ; as he says, "A great many interesting 
anecdotes, that happened during the American 
Revolutionary War, are likely to be lost to pos- 
terity, by the negligence of the parties concerned, 

in not recording them I shall therefore 

without any attention to order, set down ^ 

those I have had any acquaintance with, attending 
principally to the truth of the facts." Conse- 
quently, we have here a gathering of anecdotes 
of vital historical interest, bequeathed to us by 
him who participated in many of the occurrences, 
or which were narrated to him, at the time of their 
inception, by other participants. 



/Jj 



IV THE BOUDINOT JOURITAL. 

Many of the narratives impart information not 
to be obtained from any other source, while some 
establish the claim to truthfulness of deeds which 
were ascribed to individuals, and which have been, 
until this publication, considered vague and imag- 
inary; as instance the anecdote of John Aitken, 
alias John the Painter, who intended to assassi- 
nate George the Third, but who was diverted from 
the deed by Silas Deane, and destroyed instead 
the naval stores at Portsmouth, England ; also the 
anecdote of the heroine, Lydia Darrah, who con- 
veyed to the author the information of the intended 
movements of the British Army at Philadelphia, 
and the imparting of which to General Washing- 
ton, saved the Continental Army a disastrous 
defeat. 

Here also will be found full accounts of the 
exchange of General Charles Lee, who was cap- 
tured by the British, and the indecent and per- 
fidious manner in which he acted towards Wash- 
ington immediately after; The capture of Major 
Andre, and mention of his real captor, whom his- 
tory has failed to name ; the poor old horse, who 
took the Tarrytown road, instead of the road to 
'New York ; had he taken the latter, who can say 
what would have been the outcome ; The exposure 
of the claim of Beaumarchais against the Conti- 
nental Congress ; The capture of Yorktown, and 
Washington's expedient which led to the capitula- 
tion; Motion made in Congress to execute Lord 



THE BOUDIIfOT JOURNAL. V 

Cornwallis in retaliation for the murder of Colonel 
Haines, as well as many other interesting nar- 
ratives. 

Throughout the whole Journal, the author is 
laudatory of the character of his beloved chief, 
Washington, and contributes, in no small way, 
items of the greatest interest, gleaned through 
personal intercourse with the greatest of men, ex- 
tolling his ability as a General, his knowledge as a 
Statesman, and his self-sacrifice as a Patriot ; the 
latter especially when the author approached him 
with the view of resio:ninof his commission as Com- 
missary for the exchange of prisoners, on account 
of Congress neglecting to supply him with money 
to alleviate the sufferings of the prisoners in the 
hands of the British at IsTew York. To use the 
author's own words, " In much distress & with 
tears in his eyes, he assured me that if he was 
deserted by the gentlemen of the country, he should 
despair, He could not do everything, he was Gen- 
eral, Quartermaster, and Commissary. Everything 
fell on him and he was unequal to the task, he gave 
me the most positive engagement that if I would 
contrive any mode for their support and comfort, 
he would confirm it as far as was in his power. On 
this I told him that I knew of but one way and 
that was to borrow money on my own private 
security. He assured me that in case I did, and 
was not reimbursed by Congress, he would go an 
Equal sharer with me in the loss." Was ever 



VI THE BOUDINOT JOURlSrAL,. 

more patriotism or self-sacrifice exhibited, or more 
sympathy expressed for his fellow soldiers by any 
general, at any time, than by Washington in this 
instance. 

The Diary terminates with a beautiful account 
of General Washington's passage from Elizabeth- 
Town, ^ew Jersey, to ^N'ew York, with the Com- 
mittee of Congress, when first chosen President 
of the United States, 23d April, 1789. 

Elias Boudinot was born in Philadelphia, May 
2, 1740, and died in Burlington, JSTew Jersey, 
October 24, 1821. He was appointed Commissary- 
General of Prisoners in the Army of America in 
1777, and was elected a delegate to Congress from 
'New Jersey, serving from 1778 till 1779, and again 
from 1781 to 1784. He was chosen President of 
Congress on November 4, 1782, and in that official 
capacity, signed the Treaty of Peace with England. 
In 1795 he was appointed by Washington, to suc- 
ceed David Pittenhouse, as Director of the Mint, 
and held the office till July, 1805. 



/ 



CONTENTS. 



Copy of the Alarm Sent by the Committee of Water- 
town, Mass., April 23, 1775, . . . . i 

Elias Boudinot, Short Sketch of Himself, ... 2 

Rev. John Witherspoon Advocates the Separation of 

the Colony of New Jersey from Great Britain, . 4 

Boudinot visits the Continental Prisoners in New York 

to Kxamine into their Grievances, ... 9 

Boudinot Meets the British Commissioners at German- 
town to Exchange the Hessian Prisoners, and the 
Conversation which took Place thereat, . , 23 

Silas Deane Relates to Elias Boudinot how he Suc- 
ceeded in his Mission as First Secret Minister to 
the Court of France, and Exposes the Claim of 
Beaumarchais Against the Continental Congress, 26 

The Story of John Aitken, alias " John the Painter," 
who Destroyed the British Naval Stores at Ports- 
mouth, England, ....... 30 

An Account of the Frenchman who Poisoned Amer- 
ican Prisoners in New York, and was Rewarded 
for so Doing by General Howe, . . . .35 

Capture of Yorktown — Count de Grassf' Threatens to 
Withdraw the French Troops — Washington's Ex- 
pedient which Led to the Capitulation, . . 37 

Cartel for Exchange of Prisoners — Explaining the 
Perfidy of General Howe, and the Manner in 
which the Continental Congress Insulted General 
Washington, 4^ 

Lydia Darrah Conveys the News of General Howe's 
Movements to Elias Boudinot, when the British 
were in Possession of Philadelphia, . . 'SO 



VUl THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

PAGE 

Providential Escape of the American Army at Morris 

Town, New Jersey, . . . . , -54 

Motion Made in Congress to Execute I,ord Cornwallis, 
in Retalliation for the Murder of Colonel Haines, 
and Cruelties Committed on Prisoners in Philadel- 
Pliia, 56 

Washington and Congress Decide to Execute Captain 
Asgill of the British Army, in Retalliation for the 
Foul Murder of Captain Huddy, but his Life is 
Spared at the Request of the King and Queen of 
France, ........ 60 

Washington Refuses to Punish a Known Traitor, With- 
out Evidence, ....... 66 

The Manner in which Elias Boudinot Succeeded in 
Getting Congress to Pay him Back the Money he 
Advanced to Feed and Clothe Continental Soldiers 
Who were Prisoners of War, . . . .68 

Scarcity of Powder at Boston, . . . . .71 

The History of the Exchange of General Charles Lee, 
who was Captured by the British, Describing his 
Indelicate Behavior in General Washington's 
House, and Narrating his Infamous Tirade Against 
Washington, and his Ridiculous Proposition to 
Congress, 73 

The Taking of Major Andre, 83 

General Washington's Passage from Elizabeth-Town 
to New York, with Committee of Congress, when 
First Chosen President of the United States, 23d 
April, 1789, 92 

Troops Furnished by each State during the Revolution- 
ary War, 1776 to 1784 97 



JOURNAL. 

Copy of the Alarm sent by the Committee of 
Watertowii, near Boston, to raise the Country. 
Rec'd by me as Chairman of the Committee of 
Safety at Elizabeth Town, in the Evening of 23rd 
April, 1775— 

" Wednesday Morning near 1 1 o'clock. 
Water Town. 

To all friends of American Liberty, be it known, that this morning be- 
fore break of day, a Brigade, consisting of about looo or 1200 men, landed 
at Phipp's Farm at Cambridge and marched to Lexington, where they found 
a Company of our Militia in Arms, upon whom they fired without any provo- 
cation and killed 6 Men and Wounded 4 others. — By an Express from Boston 
we find another Brit^ade are now upon their march from Boston supposed to 
be about 1000 — the Bearer Israel Bissel is charged to alarm the Country 
quite to Connecticut, and all Persons are desired to furnish him with fresh 
Horses, as they may be needed — I have spoken with several who have seen 

the dead and wounded. 

J Palmer one of the Committee 

of S y. 

forwarded from Worcester April 19th 1775. 

Brooklyn Thursday 1 1 o'clock. 

Norwich 4 o'clock. 

New London 7 o'clock. 

Lynne Friday morning i o'clock. 

^ Say Brook 4 o'clock. 

Shillingsworth 7 o'clock. 

E Guilford 8 o'clock. 

Guilford 10 o'clock. 

Bradford 12 o'clock. 

New Haven April 21st. 

rec'd & forwarded on certain Intelligence. 

fairfield April 22nd 8 o'clock. 

Thursday 3 o'clock Afternoon. 
Since the above rec'd the following by second Express. 
Sir 

I am this moment informed by Express from Woodstock, taken from 

the mouth ot the Express that arrived there 2 o'clock Afternoon, that the 



2 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

Contest between the first Brigade that inarched to Concord, was still continu- 
ing this Morning at the Town of Lexington, to which Bridage had retreated. 

That another Brigade said to be the Second, mentioned in the letter 
of this morning had landed with a quantity of Artillery, at the place where 
the first did. — The Provincials where determined to prevent the two Brigades 
from joining their strength if possible, and remain in great need of succor. 

— N. B. The Regulars when in Concord, burnt the Court House, took 2 
pieces of Cannon, which they rendered useless and began to take up Concord 

Bridge, on which Capt. (who with many on both sides were soon killed) 

made an attack on the King's Troops, when they retreated to Lexington — 

I am Sir 

Eb Williams 
Col Obadiah Johnson, Canterbury." 

P. S. Mr McFarland of Plainfield Mass., has just returned from Boston 
by way of Providence, who conversed with an Express from Lexington, who 
further informs, that about 4000 of our Troops had surrounded the first Brigade 
who were on a Hill in Lexington. That the Action continued and there 
were about 50 of our men killed and 150 Regulars as near as they could 
determine when the Express came away — It will be expedient for every man 
to go, who is fit and willing. 

New York Committee Chamber, 4 o'clock, 
23rd April 1775 P.M. 

Rec'd the within by Express & for'd by Express to N Brunswick with 
directions to stop at Elizabeth Town and acquaint the Committee there with 
the foregoing particulars by order 

J Low 
The Committee at New Brunswick are Chairman 

ordered to forward this to Philadelphia. 



A great many interesting anecdotes, that hap- 
pened during the American Revolutionar j War, 
are likely to be lost to Posterity, by the negligence 
of the pai'ties concerned, in not recording them, so 
that in future time they may be resorted to, as 
throwing' arreat lio-ht on the eventful Crisis-, of this 
important ^ra — 1 shall therefore without any 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 3 

attention to order, but merely as they arise in my 
memory, set down those I have had any acquaint- 
ance with, attending principally to the Truth of 
the facts. 

I was among- the lii'st of the citizens of ]S"ew 
eXersey who exerted ourselves in opposition to the 
unconstitutional Acts of Great Britain then the 
mother Country, and to whom the Citizens of 
America Avere bound by the strongest habits of 
filial aflPection and religious obedience. JSTothing 
was farther from our ideas, than a state of indepen- 
dence, on the Country from which we drew all our 
Principles of Happiness and Enjoyment. 

I had read an excellent treatise, said to have been 
written by Lord Kaim, which in a very extraordinary 
manner foretold the certainity of American Inde- 
pendence, in some future day, and that founded on 
a train of solid reasoning, but we talked of it and 
treated it as the generality of People now do the 
accounts they read of the Millinium — 

In 1775 I was chosen a Member of the provincial 
Congress of IN'ew Jersey ; and when a proposition 
was made by a few weak and Yiolent Men, for 
raising a regiment of Troop, it was opposed by all the 
Men of ^ote and understanding as a measure wholly 
against our Duty and Allegiance to Great Britain 
and rejected as contrary to every sentiment or 
desire of our Constituents. A few week violent 
Men (particularly a Wm. Smith, of Woodbridge) 
were not only for raising a regiment of Soldiers but 



4 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

expressly moved foi* an order to burn every Mans 
house, who should refuse to join in the opposition — 
It required prudence and patience to get rid of the 
effects of these hotheaded measures — But I could 
not help remarking that these very men were the 
first to join the enemy as soon as they appeared in 
force — 



Rev. John Witherspoon Advocates the Sepa- 
ration OF the Colony of ]N^ew Jersey 
FROM Great Britain. 



In 1776 in the month of April, an invitation was 
given in the l!^ews Paper of IS' ew Jersey (but with- 
out a name) for each County to choose delegates 
or a Committee to meet at 'New Brunswick on mat- 
ters which greatly concerned the Province — but 
it was generally conceived to be designed to pro- 
mote some general plan relative to a Markett for 
home manufactures in each County. Committees 
were generally appointed, Altho' the publication 
made but little impression on the minds of the 
people at large — At this time the stated Meeting 
of the Trustees of the College of New Jersey was 
held at Princeton — Being one of the Trustees, I at- 
tended, but we were surprised, to find our President, 
the Pev. Dr. John Witherspoon had absented him- 
self on the 2nd day of our meeting. We finished 
our Business and the next day, was returning home 



THE BOUDIN^OT JOURNAL. 5 

without reflecting at all on the meeting to be held 
at ^ew Brnnswick, having totally forgotten it. — 
In company with Wm P Smith Esq another of 
the Trustees, arrived at ]S"ew Brunswick about 11 
O'clock A.M, and after feeding our Horse, meant 
to have dined at Woodbridge — In the mean time 
an acquaintance from the County of Berger came 
into the Tavern. He informed us that he was one 
of the Committee from that County — That Dr 
Witherspoon had met the united Committees, and 
acknowledge himself the Author of the publication, 
and informed them, that the design of the meeting- 
was, to consider the peculiar situation of the Prov- 
ince, and the propriety of declaring a separation 
from Great Brittain, and forming an independent 
Constitution for ourselves, and as he did not wish 
to precipitate so important a step, he proposed ad- 
jorning till the afternoon, when he would offer his 
reasons at large, and in the mean time, each Member 
might think seriously on the Subject — this unex- 
pected account raised our Curiosity, and Mr. Smith, 
& Myself agreed to stay and hear what might be 
said on the Subject, but before the meeting ad- 
jorned, they resolved to request, that as the subject 
was one which interested every Inhabitant of the 
Province, any of the Audience might come forward 
& deliver his Sentiments altho' he could not vote 
on the Question — 

We accordingly attended the Meeting in the 
Afternoon when Dr. W. rose and in a very able 



6 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

and elegant speech of one hour and an half en- 
deavoured to convince the audience & the Committee 
of the absurdity of opposing the extravagant de- 
mands of Great Brittain, while we were professing 
a perfect allegiance to her Authority and support- 
ing her courts of Justice — The Character of the 
speaker, his great Influence among the People, his 
known attachment to the liberties of the People, 
and the artful manner in which he represented the 
whole subject, as worthy their attention, had an 
eifect, on the assembly that astonished me — 

There appeared a general approbation of the 
measure, and I strongly suspected an universal 
acquiescence of both Committee & Audience in 
approving the Doctor's Scheme — I never felt myself 
in a more mortifying Situation — The anonjmious 
publication — The Meeting of the Trustees of the 
College but the Day before made up wholly of 
Presbyterians, — Their President leaving them to 
attend the meeting & avowing himself the Author 
of it — The Doctor known to be at the head of the 
Presbyterian Interest, and Mr. Smith & Mj^self both 
Presbyterians, arriving at jS^ew Briniswick in the 
morning, as if intending to go forward & then stay- 
ing and attending the meeting, altogether looked so 
like a preconcerted Scheme, to accomplish the End, 
that I was at my wit's end, to know how to extricate 
myself from so disagreeable a situation, especially 
as the measure was totally ag's my Judgment. 

On a minutes Conversation with Mr. Smith, 1 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 7 

determined at all events to step forward & leave 
my Testimony of the Scheme in toto — Two of the 
Committee had delayed the Question by speaking 
in favour of it, but no one had spoken in opposi- 
tion, till I rose, and in a speech of about half an 
hour or better, stated my peculiar Situation and en- 
deavoured to show the fallacy of the Doctors Argu- 
ment, — That his plan was neither founded in Wis- 
dom, Prudence, nor Economy, — That we had chosen 
a Continental Congress, to whom we had resigned 
the Consideration of our public affairs — That they, 
coming from every part of the Union, would best 
represent all the Colonies now thus united. — They 
would know the true Sitaation of our Country with 
regard to finances. Union & the prospects we had 
of a happy reconciliation with the Mother Country — 
They would also be possessed of our relative Cir- 
cumstances with regard to the other l^ations of 
Europe — In short that they were the only proper 
Judges of the measures to be pursued, and that 
we had no right to involve them in distress and 
trouble by plunging ourselves into measures of so 
delicate a nature, until they should advise us in 
what manner to proceed etc etc 

This opposition wholly unexpected by the Doc- 
tor with the great attention of all present, a little 
disconcerted him. — but he soon recovered himself, 
and began a reply when two or three Gent' of the 
Audience came to me & desired that I would inform 
the Doctor, that if he proceeded any farther, they 



8 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

would not be answerable for his safet}^ — I answered, 
that the request was an unreasonable one. — That I 
had been the only person present who had opposed 
him, that he had a right to be heard in reply, and if 
they disliked the proposition, they ought openly to 
come forward & to give their opinion — 

The Doctor had not spoken twenty minutes, 
when I observed some person whispering to him — 
He directly stopped — informed the Chairman, that 
he found that he was giving offence, and therefor 
he should say no more on the subject, but hoped 
that the Committees would return to their respective 
Counties & consult their Constituents, without 
coming to any determination on the Subject — 

To this 1 objected, urging the impropriety of 
breaking up without a Yote, as in that Case the 
opinion of the meeting would be variously reported 
in the different Counties, according to each mans 
political Creed, and the people would by these 
means be led astray. 

The Doctor was a good deal out of humor & con- 
tended warmly against a vote — but a large Majority 
of the Meeting insisted on a Yote, which, being taken, 
out of 36 Members, there were but 3 or 4 who Yoted 
for the Doctors proposition, the rest rejecting it 
with great warmth. Thus ended this first attempt 
to try the pulse of the People of ^ew Jersey on the 
Subject of Independence ; and yet when advised 
by the Continental Congress, no part of the Union 
were more trusty than the State of 'Ne^Y Jersey. 



•# t 



C E L, 

linoi 

d States i 

-J JLJL 

fervice of 
their o bedi 



By His E X C E L. L, E, N c y 

Elias Boudinot:, Efquire, 

Prefident of the United States in Congrefs Aflembled. 

A PROCLAMATION. 

WHEREAS a body of armed Soldiers in the fervice of i he United States, and quartered in the Barracks 
of this City, having mutinoufly renounced their obedi(;nce to their Officers, did, on Saturday the Twcn- 
fty.Firfl Day of this inftant, proceed, under the diredtion of their Serjeants, in a hodile and threatning manner, to 
ihe Place in which Congrefs were aflembled, and did furround the lame with Guards: And whereas Congrefs in 
.confcquencc thereof, did on the fame Day, refolve, " That the Prefidenc and Supreme Executive Council of this State 
" fliould be informed, that the authority of the United States having been, that Day, groffly infultcd by the 
" difoiderly and menacing appearance of a body of armed Soldiers,, about the Place within which Congrefs were aflcm- 
" bled; and that the Peace of this City being endangered by the mutinous Difpofrtion of the faid Troops then In the 
" Barracks; it was, in the Opinion of Congrefs, ncceCfary, that efFc 6lual Meafures fliould be immediately taken for 
" fupporting the public Authority:" Aud alfo whereas Congrefs did at the fame Time appoint a Committee to con- 
fer with the faid Prefident and Supreme Executive Council on the praflicabillty of carrying the faid Refolutlon in oduc 
eflcd; And alfo wheieas the faid Commiitee have reported to mc, thatihcy liavenoC received fatisfaaory Afllirances 
for cxpeding adequate and prompt exertions of th'.s State for fupporting the Drgnityof the foederal Government = And 
alfo whereas the faid Soldiers flill continue in a ftate of open Mutiny and Revolt, fo that the Dignity and Authurity of the 
United States >V&ould be conflantlyexpofed toa repetition of Infult, ^frhilc Congrefs flulf continue to fit in this City. I 
do therefore, by and with the Advice of the faid Committee, and according to the Powers and Authorities in mc vert- 
ed for this Purpofe, hereby fummon the honourab^ilhc Delegates compofing the Congrefs of che United Sratcs, and 
e^KMp^them, to meet in Congrefs on Thurfday the Twenty Sixth C'ayof Junelnflant,- at Princeton, In the flateof New- 
pJ^PV t^ijl ord mhat further and more effectual Meafures may betaken Forfupprefling thoprefent Revolt, andmaintaming the 
Dignity and Authority of the United States, of which all Officers of the jUnired States, civil and military, and all others whom 
it may concern, are defired to take Notice and govern themfclves acccrdlngly. 

GIVEN under my Hand and Seal at Philadelphia, in the flateof Pennfylvania, this Twenty Fourth Day of June, 
in the Year of Our Lord One Thoufand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Three, and of ^M Sovereignty and fadc- 
pendencc.lhc feiWRthi^ 

ELIAS BOUDINOT. 

Attea. 

SamuelSteRETT, Private Secretary. 

FaC"81MII.E ok HkiiAHSIDK IxsKKTKU UV Ei.IAS BiIIMMXkT IV III^* .JoritVAL. 



^ 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 



YlSITS THE CONTINEI^TAL PRISONERS IN ISTeW 

York to Examine into their Grievances. 



In the spring- of 1777 General Washington 
wrote me a letter requesting me to accept of a 
Commission as Commissary General of Prisoners 
in the Army of America — I waited on him and 
politely declined the task urging the wants of the 
Prisoners & having nothing to supply them — He ^ 
very kindly objected to the conduct of Gentlemen 
of the Country refusing to join him in his Arduous 
struggle, — That he had nothing in View but the 
Salvation of his Country, but it was impossible for 
him to accomplish it alone, That if Men of Character 
& Influence would not come forward & join him in 
his Exertions all would be lost — Affected by this / 
address, and supposing that I could be of some 
service to the Prisoners, and at the same time have 
an Eye on the Military Power & prevent its In- 
croachment, on the Civil Authority, I consented to 
accept the Commission on the Generals assurance 
that I would be supplied by the secret Committee 
of Congress with hard Money for the relief of 
Prisoners, and that I should only be subject to his 
order in the Conduct of my department — 

Soon after I had entered on my department, the 
applications of the Prisoners were so numerous and 
their distress so urgent, that I exerted every nerve 



10 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

to obtain Su}jplies but invaiii — Exceptino- £600 — 
1 had recM I'rom the Secret Committee in Bills of 
Exchange, at my first entrance into the Office — T 
could not by any means get a farthing more, except 
in Continental Money, which Avas of no avail in 
ISTew York. — I applied to the General describing 
my delicate Situation and the continual application 
of the Officers, painting their extreme distress, and 
urging the assurance they had rec'd that on my 
appointment, I was to be furnished with adequate 
means for their full relief — The General appeared 
■^ greatly distressed & assured me that it was out of 
his power to afford me any supplies — I proposed 
drawing Clothing from the public Stores, but to 
this he objected as not having any thing like a suf- 
ficient supply for the Army. He urged my con- 
sidering & adopting the best means in my power 
to satisfy the necessities of the Prisoners, & he 
would confirm them — I told him I laiew of no 
means in my Power but to take what Monies I had 
of my own, & to borrow from my friends in ^ew 
York, to accomplish the desirable purpose — He 
\ greatly encouraged me to the attempt, promising 

me that if I finally met with any loss, he would 
divide it with me — On this I began to afibrd them 
some supplies of Provisions over and above what 
the Enemy afibrded them, which was very small & 
very indifterent. 

The Complaints of the very cruel treatment our 
Prisoners met with, in the Enemy's lines rose to 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 11 

such a Heighth that in the Fall of this Year, 
1777, the General wrote to General Howe or Clin- 
ton respecting there complaints & proposing to 
send an Officer into JS'ew York to examine into 
the truth of them — This was agreed to, and a 
regular Passport returned accordingly — The Gen- 
eral ordered me on this Service — I accordingly 
went over on the third of Feb 1778 in my own 
Sloop — supposing that my treatment would be 
very harsh, I prepared to meet with it in a proper 
manner, at Staten Island, the Commanding Gen- 
eral, put on Board of us a Sergeant & file of 
Men we arrived at the wharf at i^ew York, a 
little before Sun down, when I sent the Sergeant 
to the Commandant of the City (who was General 
Eobertson, who I had formerly known) to inform 
him of my arrival & request to land. In a very 
short time, the Sergeant returned, with an answer 
that I must send to the General my rank & Busi- 
ness before I could be permitted to land — know- 
ing that the General knew both, I was chagrined 
at this Answer, and immediately turning to the 
Captain of my Sloop in the presence of the Ser- 
geant, asked him if the Wind would suit to return 
over the Bay, to which he answered in the affirma- 
tive — I then took out my Watch & addressing the 
Sergeant, told him to return to his General & in- 
form him that I would neither send him my rank 
or business, as he well knew both, and that if I 
was not suffered to land in Ten minutes, I should 



12 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

return from whence I came — The Sergeant sur- 
prised at such a message to the Commanding 
General, ran with great haste to deliver this an- 
swer, and much sooner than I could have expected, 
Major Courtland returned with the Sergeant & 
very politely desired me to land, as he was ordered 
to conduct me to the Commissary of Prisoners — 
When I came to Mr. Commissary Lorings, he be- 
haved very civilly, and after taking Tea with him, 
desired me to attend him to the General. 

I found no ceremony of blinding me or any 
other restraint which I had expected I wore a 
uniform & sword by my side. The General 
rec'd me with great politeness and appeared as 
friendly & sociable as he had used to do before 
the War — He conversed very freely with me for 
near two hours, without mentioning anything rela- 
tive to the manner of my conducting myself while 
in the Garrison — At length he informed me that 
lodgings were prepared for me, and the Commis- 
sary would wait upon me to them — I answered 
that my being in a garrisoned Town, was an entire 
new thing to me, and therefor if I asked anything 
improper, I hoped it would be imputed to my want 
of knowledge of military caution — That I had a 
Brother in Law in the City who was my agent, 
and therefor should be glad, if consistent with 
order, to lodge with him — The General, with great 
politeness assured me that the lodgings were pre- 
pared, yet I might go where I pleased, on Condi- 



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THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 13 

tion of my breakfasting with him in the Morning — 
This I promised to do, & retired — Taking it for 
granted that I was to be put under the expected 
restriction in the Morning, I waited on the General 
at Breakfast, he behaved as before with the 
greatest civility & good humor — After breakfast 
he asked a great many questions about the ^ews 
in our lines, and conversed on common Topicks, 
but said nothing about my Conduct while in the 
City, on which I at last introduced the business on 
which I had come. — That I was a stranger to mili- 
tary rule — I knew that I was in a garrisoned 
Town, and therefor wished to know what line of 
Conduct it was expected that I should pursue — 
The General answered me that he knew we had 
heard strange stories within our lines of their 
Conduct to our Prisoners, that he rejoiced that 
General Washington had taken the measure of 
sending me in to examine for ourselves, for that 
he was sure that we should find them a parcel of 
damned lies — that he had ordered every Place I 
should choose to visit to be freely opened to me, 
and that as I was a gentleman, all that he ex- 
pected was that I should behave as such, and that 
I might use my own pleasure & go where I 
pleased — I confess I was surprised at this gener- 
ous conduct, and immediately replied, that I could 
not accept the Gentlemanly ofPer — That I had come 
on a fair and open Business That I had no secrets 
to communicate & would not receive any from 



14 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

any person whatever, — That I conld not put myself 
so far in then* power, as after my departure to 
render it possible for them to Charge me with 
improper behaviour unworthy my Character, by 
communicating or recieving secret intelligence to 
or from our Officers — That my intentions were not 
only to be convinced myself of the truth of the 
treatment the Prisoners had received, but if it had 
been cruel, that the General also should be con- 
vinced of the fact also, as necessary towards their 
relief. That therefor I should not see a Prisoner 
or have any communication with one but in the 
presence of a british Officer, who I hoped he 
would oblige me by appointing to attend me — The 
General expressed himself well pleased with the 
proposal, and appointed one accordingly, observing 
again, that he was sure I should find the reports 
we had heard totally false — Accordingly I went 
to the Provost, with the Officer, where we found 
near 30 Officers from Colonels downwards, in close 
confinement in the Gaol in 'Ne^Y York. After some 
conversation with late Ethan Allen, I told him my 
errand, on which he was very free in his abuse of 
the British on account of the cruel Treatment he 

had rec'd during Months close confinement. 

We then proceeded up stairs to the Room of their 
Confinement. I had the Officers draAvn up in a 
Ring, and informed them of my mission, — that I 
was determined to hear nothing in secret. That I 
therefore hoped they would each of them in their 



THE BOUDIN^OT JOURISTAL. 15 

turn report to me faithfully & candidly the Treat- 
ment they severeally had i ecieved — that my design 
was to obtain them the proper redress, but if they 
Kept back anything from an improper fear of their 
keepers, they would have themselves only to blame 
for their want of immediate redress — That for the 
purpose of their deliverance the British Officer 
attended that the British General, should be also 
well informed of Facts. — On this after some little 
hesitation from a dread of their keeper, the Pro- 
vost Martial, One of them began & informed us 
that they had been confined on the most frivol- 
ous pretenses, some for having been oppressors 
of the friends of Government, — for taking refugees' 
Property, while officers under command & in 
obedience to orders — for being out of their bounds 
of Parole, the week after their return — some confined 
in the Dungeon for a J^ight to wait the Censure of 
General to examine them, & forgot for months — for 
being Committee Men, &c., &c. — That they had 
rec'd the most cruel Treatment from the Provost 
Martial, being locked up in the Dungeon on the 
most trifling pretenses, such as asking for more 
water for drink on a hot day than usual — for sitting 
up a little longer in the Evening than orders 
allowed — for writing a letter to the General mak- 
ing their Complaints of ill usage & throwing 
out of the Windows. — That some of them were 
kept 10, 12 & 14 weeks in the Dungeon on 
these trifling Pretenses — a Captain Vandyke 



16 THE SOUDIl^OT JOURNAL. 

had been confined 18 months for being concerned 
in setting fire to the City When, on my calling 
for the Provost Books, it appeared that he had 
been made Prisoner, & closely confined, in the 
Provost 4 days before the fire happened — A 
Major Paine had been confined 11 months for 
killing a Capt. Campbell in the Engagement when 
he was taken Prisoner, when, on Examinaation it 
appeared that the Captain had been killed in another 
part of the Action — The charge was that Major 
Paine when taken had no Commission tho' ac- 
knowledged by us as a Major — Capt. was con- 
fined for breaking a soldiers thigh with the but of 
his Gun after he was shot down, when the British 
Surgeon on examination acknowledged that the 
thigh was broken by a Ball, &c., &c., &c. Most of 
the cases examined into turned out wholly false or 
too trifling to be regarded — It also appeared by 
the Declaration of some of the Gent' that their 
water would be sometimes, as the Caprice of the 
Provost Martial led him, brought up to them in the 
Tubs they used in their Rooms, & when the weather 
was so hot that they must drink or perish — On 
hearing a number of these instances of Cruelty — I 
asked who was the Author of them, they answered 
the provost keeper — I desired the Officer to call him 
up that we might have him face to face — He ac- 
cordingly came in, and on being informed of what 
had x^assed, he was asked if the Complaints were 
true. He, with great Insolence answered, that every 



tHE BOUDINOT JOURIfAL. l7 

word was true — on which the British Officer, abus- 
ing him very much, asked him how he dared to treat 
Gent' in that cruel Manner, he, insolently putting 
his hands to his side swore that he was as absolute 
there as Gen'l Howe was at the head of his Army — 
I observed to the Officer that now there could be 
no dispute about Facts as the fellow had acknowl- 
edged every word to be true— I stated all the facts 
in substance & waited again on Gen'l Robertson, 
Avho hoped I was quite satisfied of the falsity of the 
reports I had heard— I then stated to him the facts, 
and assured him that they turned out worse than 
any thing we had heard. On his hesitating as to 
the truth of this assertion, I observed to him the 
propriety of having an Officer with me, to whom I 
now appealed for the truth of the facts. He being 
present confirmed them, — on which the Gen'l ex- 
pressed great disatisfaction, & promised that the 
Author of them should be punished. I insisted 
that the Officers should be discharged from his 
Power on Parole on long Island as other Officers 
were — To this after recieving from me a copy of 
the facts I had taken down, he assented and ali 
were discharged except Seven, who were detained 
some time before I could obtain their reliese — I 

forgot to mention that one Officer, Lieut was 

taken Prisoner and brought in with a wound thro' 
his leg. He was sent to the Provost to be examined 
the next morning — He was put into the Dungeon 
& remained there 10 weeks totally forgotten by the 



18 THE BOUDi:N^OT JOURNAL. 

General, and never had his wound dressed except 
as he washed it with a Uttle Rum and Water, 

given to him by the Centinels thro' the hole 

out of their own rations. Cap & a Cap Chat- 
ham were confined with them and their allowance 
was 4 lb hard spoiled Biscuit & 2 lb Pork per 
week ; which they were obliged to Eat raw — while 
they were thus confined, for the slightest Com- 
plaints, the Provost Martial Avould come down and 
beat them unmercifully with a Rattan & Knock 
them down with his fist — After this I visited two 
Hospitals of our Sick Prisoners and the Sugar 
House ; in the two first were 211 Prisoners & in 
the last about 190 — They acknowledge that for 
about two months past they fared pretty well, 
being allowed 2 lb of good Beef and a proportion 
of flour or Bread per week by Mr Lewis my 
Agent over and above the Allowance rec' from the 
British which was professed to be f r Allowance — 
but before they had suffered much from the small 
allowance they had rec' & that their Bread was 
very bad being musty biscuit, but that the British 
Soldiers made the same Complaint as to the bread. 
— From every account I recieved, 1 found that 
their treatment had been greatly changed for the 
better., within a few months past., except at the 
Provost. They all agreed that previous to the 
capture of Genl Bm'goyne, and for some time after. 
Their treatment had been cruel beyond measure. 
That the prisoners in the French Church, amounting 



'i^Hte feOUDINOt JOURNAL. l9 

on an average to 3 & 400, could not all lay down at 
once, that from the 15th Oct. to the 1st Jany. they 
never reed a single stick of wood, and that for the 
most part they eat their Pork Raw, when the Pews 
& Door & Wood on Facings failed them for fuel. 

But as to my own personal knowledge, I found 
Genl Robertson very ready to agree to every meas- 
ure for alleviating the miseries of War : and very 
candidly acknowledged many faults committed by 
the inferior Officers, and even the mistakes of the 
General himself, by hearkening to the representa- 
tions of those around him, He showed me a letter 
from Genl Howe who was in Philadelphia, giving 
orders that we should not be at liberty to purchase 
Blankets within their lines, — and containing a copy 
of an Order, I had issued, that they should not 
purchase provisions within ours, by way of retalia- 
tion but he represented it as if my order was first 
— I stated the facts to Genl Robertson who assured 
me that Genl Howe had been imposed upon & re- 
quested me to state the facts by way of letter 
which he immediately wrote to Genl Howe, urging 
the propriety of reversing his orders, which after- 
wards he did in a very hypocritical manner as will 
appear hereafter. 

One Day Calling on Genl Robertson he asked 
me if I had any objection against a free private 
political Conversation. I answered that I could 
not have any. — He asked me up into his Bed 
Room, and began by asking me, why so much 



20 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

blood was shed, among those who were once breth- 
erii, when it was apparent that no valuable end 
could be answered by it. Why no one had yet 
stepped forth to stop so unnatural a breach & pre- 
vent the cutting each other's throats — I replied, 
that no good reason could in my opinion be as- 
signed—That the fault lay with them— They had in- 
vaded our Land — we had not troubled them — that 
all we had asked was to be heard— That this was 
refused and War and desolation was brought by 
them into our Country. 

It was therefor with them to make propositions, 
that we might know which it was they would be 
at. That we were not only strangers to & ignorant 
in the Art of War and almost wholly unprepared 
for it, but were lovers of Peace & only wished to 
enjoy our Habitations in quietness, without quar- 
relling with any one. He expressed himself 

very strongly agt the war, as an unnatural destruc- 
tion of each other by which nothing valuable was 
to be obtained, — That he was authorized to assure 
me that if any one would step forward & heal the 
unhappy difference, that he should be rewarded in 
any manner he should ask, even to a Pension of 
Ten Thousand Pounds Sterling — I observed to him 
that there could be no necessity for this, that the 
Americans were desirous of Peace, and would 
eagerly seize every opportunity of embracing it, 
but the proposition from the nature of the thing 
must come from them. 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 21 

He observed that Lord Howe & Geiil Howe had 
been authorized to make peace with us on almost 
any Tei'ms. I assured him that I had been con- 
versant with the proceedings of Congress & the 
knowledge of Genl Washington and I did not be- 
lieve that any such thing was known. After a 
little reflection, he insisted that the fact was so, 
and that Lord Howe had actually written an 
account of it to Genl Washington before his land- 
ing, while off the Hook at Sea.— On my repeat- 
ing my disbelief of it, he told me that this was one 
of the evils of the present dispute. — That a parcel 
of Demagogues had professed themselves of the 
Govt and kept the people in entire Ignorance of 
the true principles of the differences between us, 
That he was sure if the people of America were left 
to themselves. They had too much good sense to 
continue the Breach, after such offers of Peace on 
our own Terms— at last starting as from a reverie, 
he said we must know it, as he had seen lord Howe's 
letter in our IS'ews Papers, I asked him if he did 
not know that Lord Howe's Authority went no 
farther than merely to grant Pardons, &c. He 
seemed confused and said that any Agreement he 
made would be ratified by the Parliament of Great 
Brittain — I then reminded him that the war had 
been brought on by the British Ministry having 
refused to suffer Parliament only to hear us, 
that being the sum of our last Petition and 
whether (as he had said, he knew many very 



22 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

ii 

sensible and Worthy men in America) he thought 
those sensible men would ever submit to make a 
Treaty with any British Commissioners (and 
thereby loose the Friendship of France), and 
Trust to a British Ministry (whose treatment had 
hitherto been so unworthy Men of Probity or Po- 
litical understanding) to have ratified by Parlia- 
ment. He now seemed a little chagrined, and said 
with some seeming petulance, that he did not 
know what the American Gentn. had done with 
their Oaths of Allegiance — Indeed Sir, I know 
not how you have got over, your Oath of Alle- 
giance for I know you have taken one. I answered 
that it had been matter of some difficulty to me 
till I was legally discharged by an Act of the 
British Parliament. He said he had never heard 
of any such Act. I told him (much in the lan- 
guage he had used in the beginning to me) that I 
had long known the misfortune of the British 
Officers. That they were kept hoodwinked and 
in total ignorance of the Causes and Reasons 
of the War in which they were engaged — That 
they were obliged to obey & fight in every cause 
whether right or wrong. — That I supposed that 
this Act was kept from getting to their knowl- 
edge, but I knew the fact, and had seen it in St 
Jame's Chronicle published by Authority. He 
assured me that it must be a congressional false- 
hood and that no such Act, had ever been passed. 
I then asked him if he was acquainted with the 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 23 

British Constitution — He answered in the affirma- 
tive. I asked him what he thought of Allegiance 
& Protection. He said they always went together, 
and that without Protection no Allegiance was 
due. I replied Have you never seen Sir, an act of 
Parliament putting all the Colonies (friends & 
foes) out of the King's protection — The Old Gentn. 
seemed alarmed at his Confession, and with warmth 
said. — A damned act. — a damned Act — I told the 
Ministry so at the time — They were distracted. — 
A damned Act. — let us go down Stairs — and our 
Conversation Ended — 



Meets the British Commissioner at German- 
town, TO Exchange the Hessian Prisoners, 
AND THE Conversation that took place 

THEREAT. 



In the Spring of 1778 about the month of May 
or beginning of June, I was appointed by Genl. 
Washington to meet a Commissioner on the part 
of the British, at Germantown to Exchange the 
Hessian Prisoners in our Custody — On my arrival 
I found the British Commissioner was the same 
General Robertson, who had brought out a Gentn. 
with him, who had been an acquaintance of mine, 
a very sensible, prudent, Genteel Man — After doing 
our Business and dining together — This Gentn 



24 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

asked me if I would walk in the Garden with him 
I readily agreed, when there he asked me if 1 
had any objection to a confidential Political Con- 
versation — I said I could have none. — He told me 
that the British exceedingly regretted our unhappy 
dispute — That they were convinced, it could end in 
no substantial good to either party — That they 
were now convinced of the propriety of healing 
the breach. — That if any person would undertake 
to settle the unhappy dispute, he was authorized 
to promise them anything from a Dukedom to Ten 
Thousand Sterling pr annum. To this I replied 
as before to Genl Robertson, that offers of that 
kind could have no effect on men who were acting 
from Principle, That America wanted Peace & 
Quietness. — That the British had invaded us, and 
it was on her part to say what she wanted. — He 
said he came authorized in the fullest manner, to 
offer a Carte Blanche, it should be signed by 
proper Authority and I might fill it up myself — 
I told him that I was too well acquainted with the 
British Govt. & of the nature of the dispute, not 
to know that such an offer was merely delusion & 
that it could only tend to decieve, for they never 
designed nor could do any such thing — He in the 
most positive Terms assured me that it was all real 
and nothing could give more pleasure to the Govt, 
than to have it agreed to — I answered that I did 
not doubt his honesty in the business but well 
knew that he was imposed upon. — He however 



By the UNITED STATES of America 
In Congrefs Aflembled. 

A PROCLAMATION. 

Declaring the Ccflatioii of Arms, as well by Sea as 'oy Land, agreed upon between the United 
States of America and His Britannic Majcfty ; and enjoining the Obfervance thereof. 

WHEREAS PrOVtfional Articles were figncd at i?aris on thr Ttiirotth Day of Norcmbcr Uft, between the 
Miniflen Plenipotenti»ry of the Uniie<l States of Atncrici for ueating of Peace, and the Minirtcr Plenipotentiary 
of Hii Britannic Majefty, to be inferted in and to conHitute the Treaty of Peace propofcd to be concluded between the 
United Sutei of America and his Britannic Majefty, when Terms of Peace fliould be agreed upon between their Moft 
Chriftian and Bticannic Majeflies: And Whereas Preliminaries for reftoring Peace between their Moft Chriftian and Britannic 
Majefties were figned at Verfallles,' on the Twentieth Day of January laft, by the Miniftcra of their Moft Chriftian and Bri- 
tannic Majcftiej : And Whereas Preliminaries for reftoring Peace beiwcccn the faid King of Great Britain and the King of Spain 
were alfo Cgned at Verfaille% on the (ame Twentieth Day of January laft. 

By which faid Preliminary Articlet it hatfi been agreed, That a. foon as the fame were ratified, Hoftiiitiei between the faid 
Kings, their Kingdom., States and Subjefls, ftiould Ceafc in all Parts of the' World; and it was farther agreed. That all Veflela 
and Effeas that might be taken in the Channel and in the North Seas, after the Space of Twelve Dayj from the Ratification of 
the faid Preliminary Articles, ftiould be refVoied ; that the Term ftiould be One Month from the Channel and North Seas ai far 
as the Canary Idands inclufively, whether in tiie Ocean or th<^ Mediterranean, Two Months from the faid Canary Iflands as 
far as the Equinoaial Line or Equator; and laftly, Rvc Months, in all other Parts of the World, without any Exccprion or more 
particular Defcriptiot\ of time or Place-. And Whereas it was Declared by the Minifler Plenipotentiary cf ilie King of Great 
Britiicu ia the Name and by the exprcli Qidct cf the Kioft hit Maflcr, on the laid Twentieth day of Januaiy laftf that 
thefaidUnitedStatesof America, their Subjcflsand their PoffclTionrfhall be comprifed intheabove mentioned Sufpenfion of Arms, at 
the fame Epochs, and in the fame manner, as the three Crowns above mentioneH, their Subjefls and Pofledlons r«fpe(flive'y ; up- 
on Condition that on the Part, and in the Name of the UnitcdStates of America, a fimilar Declaration (hall be Delivered, e.\- 
preffly Declaring their Aflent to the faid Sufpenfion of Arms^and containing an Aftiiranceof the moft perftfk Reciprocity on 
their Part; And Whereas the Minirters Plenipotentiary of thefe United States, did, on the lame Twentieth. Day of January, 
in the Name and by the Authority of the faid United States, accept the faid Declaration, and declare, that the faid States 
fliouId caufe all HoOilities to Ceale againft His Britannic Majefty', his Subjcfts and hii PoffclTions, at the Terms and Epochs 
agreed upon between His faid Majefty the King of Great-Britain, 1 lis Mnjcfly the King of France, and His Majefty the King 
cf Spain, fo, and in the fame Manner, as had been agreed upon Befween thofcThrce Crowns, and to produce the fame EfTeiSs; 
And Whereas the Ratifications of the faid Preliminiry Articles between their Moft Chriftian and Dritannic Majefties were exchang. 
ed by their Minifters on the Third Day of February laft, and between His Britannic Majefly and the King of Spain on the Ninth 
Day of February laft : And Whereas it is Our Will and Pleafure that the Ceffation otHoftilities between the United States of Ame- 
■tea and his Britannic Majefty. fhould be conformable to the Epochs fixed between their Moft Chriftian and Britannic Majefties. 

WE have thought fit to make known ihefjme to the Citizen*- of chefe States, and we hereby ftridlly Charge and Command 
all our Officers, both by Sea and Land, and others, Subjeftt of thefe United States, to Fo/bear all Aflsof Hoft 1 ty, either by 
Sea or by Land, againft His Briljnnic Majefty or his Subjects, frim mul after the r^r,ici.Tive Times .-(jrccd iijion between their 
MortCh.idian ani Britannic Majefties as aforefaid 

A^' D We do fur. her require all Governors and others, the Executive Powers of thefe United States relpe(flively, tocaufe 
(his our Proclamation to be made Public, to the end that the fame be duly obferved within their feveral Jurifdi<5lions. 

DONE in Congref:, at Philadclphi.i, this Eleventh Day of April, in the Year of our 
Lotd One Thoufand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Three, and of our Sovereignty and 

Independence the Seventh. 



-fW 



Facsimile of Broadside Inserted by Elias Boudinot in his Journal. 



fi^f^. 




ctiiu liULiimg- coma give i 
than to have it agreed 1 
not doubt his honesty 
knew that he was imj 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 25 

consulted so strenuously on the rectitude of their 
intention, That he would venture his life upon their 
agreeing to any Terms that I would dictate. In 
reply I said I would try him & thereby bring 
the matter to the test, — That I would fill up the 
Carte Blanche with only our Term — " That we 
should be allowed our Single free Bottom to every 
part of the World" — His countenance fell and 
with much apparent distress, said Sir, you are 
right, it is impossible. — Well sir, said I, it is not 
all the Power of Great Brittain and all that she is 
worth, will ever bring America to submit without 
having a free Trade to every part of the World, 
with as many ships as she can command, and 
therefor this project is vain — He acknowledged 
his Error begging my pardon for the trouble he 
had given me, and the freedom he had used, — and 
we returned into the House — After some little time 
Genl Robertson came to me and curiously asked 
me who I thought would be Govr. of Pennsyl- 
vania. — I told him it lay between Mr Robt Morris 
and Mr Joseph Read — that one of them would be 
chosen, but which I knew not — we then soon 
parted 



26 the boudinot journal. 

Silas Deane Relates to Elias Boudinot iioav 
HE Succeeded in his Mission as Fikst Secret 
Minister to the Court of France, and Ex- 
poses THE Claim of Beaumarchais against 
the Continental Congress. 



In the Year 1778 Mr. Silas Deane our first Secret 
Minister to the Court of France returned home, 
and among many Conversations I had with him, he 

related the following parts. That when he was 

first sent to France in 1776 he was to o^o in the 
Character of a Bermudian Merchant, and the bet- 
ter to cover his design, he did not take any consid- 
erable sum of money or Bills of Exchange with 
him for his support but the secret committee were 
to send them after him by the way of London, to 
arrive in Paris nearly as soon as he could himself, 
lest a Capture should betray his Secret. He ar- 
rived at Paris in Safety, and made application to 
Count De Yergennes, to be heard on the subject 
of the American dispute, but the Count took no 
notice of him — he repeated his applications in vain. 
His remittances were all taken or lost, and he soon 
expended what cash he brought with him, He 
became exceedingly distressed, and knew not what 
to do. His Landlord became uneasy, and he found 
that he should be soon turned into the Street He 
repeated his application to the Count with Earnest- 
ness, but could not gain any Interview. — What 
way to turn he knew not. He walked out in the 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 27 

fields in despair. In his walk he met with a Citi- 
zen who lived in the suburbs, with whom he fell 
into Conversation & fully told him his distress, as 
a Merchant whose remittance had failed, and who 
in consequence knew not where to get a meal of 
Victuals. This man generously took him to his 
house and agreed to board him till he should get 
returns from his friends — After waiting sometime 
longer and finding no hope of seeing Count De 
Yergennes, he determined on returning to America 
Re Infecta. — He had actually packed up his little 
Wardrobe and was preparing to embark, When 
in the Afternoon he rec' Letters announcing The 
Declaration of Independence by Congress and the 
Action of General Arnold on Lake Champlain with 
the British fleet, within two hours after : he reed a 
Card from Count De Yergennes requesting his 
company immediately on business of importance 
Mr Deane being exceedingly chagrined with the 
treatment he had reed refused to go. — The next 
morning just as he had got up from Bed, the Sieur 
Gerard called upon him from the Count De Yer- 
gennes insisting on his calling & Breakfasting with 
him. — He again refused, but on Mr Gerard's 
pressing it with warmth, he agreed to go — when 
he arrived at the Counts he was received as an old 
acquaintance & treated with as much familiarity & 
friendship as if there had been a long acquiant- 

ance between them a long Conversation took 

place, on the American Contest when Mr Deane 



28 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

acquainted him with his mission and his wants, 
The Count made the most positive declaration ags 
doing any thing to promote the disaffection of her 
Colonies with Great Britain, — That France should 
support her faith with her good ally Great Brittain, 
and could not hearken to any proposition inconsist- 
ent with her Treaty with that Power, and so they 
parted, with some assurances however that his 
personal wants should be supplied. 

The next morning a Man under the name Monsr 
Beaumarchais whom Mr Deane considered as sent 
by Count De Yergennes called upon him and told 
him that he had heard that he (Mr Deane) was a 
Bermudian Merchant and that he was desirous of 
Contracting with some person for a quantity of 
Merchandise — That he (Beaumarchais) had been a 
Courtier & had been banished on some affront 
given at Court — that lately he had permission to 
return, That he was just entering into Mercantile 
Speculations & if they could agree, he should be 
glad to serve him. Mr Deane took the hint, told 
him that he wanted Warlike Stores, from a tiint to a 
Thirty Six pounds Great Gun. — That he could only 
purchase on a long Credit, to be paid on Instal- 
ments, and that he must also be supplied with 
a Vessel or Vessels to carry them to America. 
Beaumarchaise answered that it would take a long 
time to manufacture so large a demand, Deane said 
they must be provided immediately as his wants 
admitted of no delay. — He replied that he was 



THE BOUDIN^OT JOTJKlSrAL. 29 

acquainted with the King's Armorer and perhaps 
he might be persuaded upon to lend him what was 
wanted, and he would restore them as they were 
manufactured, — In fine an old frigate was immedi- 
ately loaded with every thing that was wanted, — 
But Just before she was ready to sail the British 
Minister found it out ; and made a spirited memo- 
rial to the King A Violent Proclamation was the 
Consequence, threatening death and destruction to 
all concerned in so wicked an Attempt, and ordering 
the frigate to be immediately unloaded, she was 
accordingly unloaded in the day. and the Loading 
put on Board of three more merchantmen at ]!!^ight, 
and they sailed in a few days, two of them arriving 
safe in America, to the great relief of the American 
Army. — All this was a profound secret, but was 
well understood by Congress to be a present from 
the King of France, but could not be contained on 
their Journals. After this the famous Thos. Paine 
being the Secretary to the Secret Committee and 
under oath of Secrecy, or some writer in the Public 
Papers, divulged the whole business in one of his 
publications — This brought the French Minister 
forward by a warm memorial to Congress, Who 
found themselves obliged to deny the King of 
France having any thing to do with the Transaction 
declaring it to be a common Mercantile Contract 
with Beaumarchais. He in his turn have since 
taken advantage of this acknowledgment ; and have 
called on Congress to pay the whole purchase 
money with interest — 



30 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

The Story of John Aitken, alias " John the 
Painter," who Destroyed the British 
Kaval Stores at Portsmouth, England. 



Mr Deane also related to vie the following Story 

That while he was in Paris, a stranger, I'ather 
advanced in Years, called upon him and requested 
to talk with him in Private, where no one could 
know what they were about, Deane surprised at 
such a request, was rather on his guard, and in- 
terrogated the Stranger as to his business, but he 
could get nothing from him, till they should go 
into a private Room. Deane suspected him, as an 
emisary from the British Ministry, but at length, 
determined to gratify him. When alone he made 
many excuses for his errand, but finally told him 
that he was an American Citizen, tho a Scotch man 
by birth, that he had lived in Amboy in N^ew Jersey, 
where he had a comfortable House. — That while 
the British Army was in possession of Amboy, 
they had suspected his principles, and treated him 
very ill in various ways, and finally burnt down 
his house, and gave him much personal insult. 
That he had determined on revenge and had at last 
determined on killing King George, for which pur- 
pose he had come to Europe. That he had been 
to England & laid his plan, and was now ready to 
execute it, but thought it his duty to make Mr 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 31 

Deane acquainted with it, as the Minister from his 
Country & to take his advice, — that he passed by 
the name of John the Painter. — Mr Deane was 
much surprised at this communication and at first 
thot him deranged. He then suspected that he 
might have been sent as a sham by the British 
Minister — After talking with him a httle & finding 
him determined, he desired him to call again. 

The next day he returned discovering as deter- 
mined a resolution as ever. Mr Deane reasoned 
with him, that it was mean & cowardly to attempt 
to assassinate a Man in cold Blood, when he had 
never injured him personally, he answered that his 
servants had insulted, abused & finally ruined him 
and he would have revenge, and that no earthly 
Consideration should prevent him. He developed 

his whole plan, and Mr D said he was surprised 

at the wisdom of it. to accomplish the End, as he 
seemed to have laid it in such a manner as to ren- 
der success certain. Mr D. told him that if he 
must have revenge he should take it in a manly, 
generous way. He should go into the American 
Army, and meet his Enemy fairly in the field. That 
if he could meet King George at the head of his 
Army in the field, and should kill him in a fair battle, 
no one could object, or if he could succeed in kill- 
ing his Generals or Army, in open Contest, it would 
be lawful, but the private assassination of an in- 
nocent man, off" his Guard & suspecting no ill, 
would be abhored by all mankind, that he could not 



32 THE BOUDIlSrOT JOURNAL. 

encourage him or give him aid in so wicked a pur- 
pose but must do every thing to dissuade him from 
it & to prevent it if possible. — on this he left him. — 
When he returned again, he came in a little fran- 
tick, saying, I thank you sir, I thank you sir. I 
confess it is unlawful to lift my hand agt the 
Lords anointed. You have convinced me. I will 
not lift my hand agt the Lords Anointed. But I 
am determined to have the !N^aval Stores at 
Portsmouth, Deane answered, that as that would 
tend to weaken the Enemy in carrying on the War, 
if he could accomplish it, he could have no objec- 
tion, but would aid him in it. He said he could 
do it, & would go over to England & reconoitre 
the Place. Deane reminded him, that if he was 
Catched he would assurdly loose his life. He said he 
should not attempt to save it. He was an old man. 
He had no connections, and whether he died now 
or three or four years hence it was a matter of but 
little consequence to him, so that he could but get 
revenge. He accordingly went to Portsmouth & 
on his return, communicated to Mr Deane his 
whole Plan, with the instrument made of Tin 
& nearly finished with which he was to accomplish 
it. The Scheme was well laid & promised suc- 
cess. Some days after he came again, and said 
now I laiow you will think me a rascal. I am 
come to borrow Money. I have expended all I 
have. I want one Guinea to carry me to Ports- 
mouth. Deane told him if that was all he should 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 33 

have it, he gave it to him and he went of. — Deane 
received the following acct. of his proceedings from 
a friend who attended his examination before the 
Privy Council — That he arrived at Portsmouth & 
took up lodgings at a very poor Womans, at the 
skirts of the town. — Early next morning he went 
out to reconoitre. The old woman anxious to 
know who or what her guest was, had the curi- 
osity to look into his bundle. She found a shirt & 
pair of stockings with a Tin Machine, which she 
could not compi-ehend — John the Painter wanted 
a Top to his machine & took it to a Tinman & had 
one made. — In the Evening he accomplished his 
purpose & Consumed near £100,000 sterl. worth 
of Stores. In the Morning every Person in the 
Town were ordered to report if any stranger had 
lodged there. — The old woman reported John the 
Painter, with the extraordinary tin Machine. The 
Tinman reported his making a Top for it — John 
was fixed upon as the Incendiary, and taking for 
granted that he was sent properly prepared for the 
purpose, and that relays of Horse were prepared 
for his Escape, Horsemen were sent on every 
Road, with orders to pui-sue and take up any & 
every person they found riding Post. — By day 
light in the Morning John had taken his Bundle & 
truged on foot up to London. — about noon the 
Horsemen sent on that Road came up with John, 
and asked him if he had seen any person on Horse- 
back riding Post that day. John answered in the 



34 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

Negative & requested to know the reason for their 
Enquiry — They related the Story of the Fire, and 
that they were in search for the Incendiary. John 
told them they were wholly mistaken in their pur- 
suit for that he was the Man who had set fire to 
the stores, and gave them his reasons for doing it. 
at first they thought him crazy, but on his repeat- 
ing it with some particular circumstances. — they 
siezed him & brought him back to Portsmouth — 
He was then recognized by the old Woman & 
Tinman, and sent to London where he was exam- 
ined before the Privy Council, He candidly told 
them the whole Story, declaring that he should 
certainly have killed the King had not Mr Deane 
dissuaded him from it & convinced him that it was 
unlawful to lift his hand agt the Lords anointed — 
That he was ready to die & he did not care how 
soon. He denied having any accomplice, and that 
he rejoyced in having obtained revenge for the 
cruelties with which he had been treated by the 
British Army. He was tryed condemned & 
hanged — a very unfair & false acct. of his Exami- 
nation was published & no JN^otice taken of Mr 
Deane's having saved the Kings Life. 

For English statement see Gentleman's Magazine for 1777. 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 35 



An Account of the Frenchman who Poisoned 
American Prisoners, in JS^ew York, and 
WAS Rewarded, for so doing, by General 
Howe. 



When the British Army took possession of I*^ew 
York, they found a Frenchman in Goal, under 
Condemnation for Burglery & Robbery. He was 
liberated. He was a very loos, ignorant Man. 
Had been a Servant. This fellow was set over our 
Prisoners in the Hospital, as a Surgeon, tho' he 
knew not the least principle of the Art. Dr 
McHenry, a Physician of Kote in the American 
Army, and then a Prisoner, finding the extreme 
ignorance of this man, and that he was really mur- 
dering our people, remonstrated to the British 
Director of the Hospital, & refused visiting our 
sick Prisoners if this Man was not dismissed. 
A British Officer convinced that he had killed 
several of our People, lodged a complaint agt him 
when he was ordered to be tryed by a Court Mar- 
tial, but the Morning before the Court were to set, 
this Officer was ordered ofl" to St Johns, and the 
Criminal was discharged, for want of Evidence. 
During this man having the Charge of our Pris- 
oners in the Hospital two of our Men deserted 
from the Hospital & came into our Army when 
they were ordered to me for Examination. They 



36 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

Joined in this story. That they were sick in the 
Hospital under the care of the above Frenchman — 
That he came & examined them, and gave to each 
of them a dose of Physick to be taken immedi- 
ately — a Young "Woman their ^N^urse made them 
some private signs not to take the Physick imme- 
diately — After the Doctor was gone, she told 
them that she suspected the Physick was poison — 
That she had several times heard this Frenchman 
say that he would have Ten Rebels dead in such 
a room and five dead in such a Room, the next 
morning, and it always so happened. They asked 
her what they should do — she told them their only 
chance was to get off sick as they were, that she 
would help them out, and they must shift for 
themselves. — They accordingly got off safe & 
brought the Physick with them.— «-This was given 
to a Surgeons Mate who afterwards reported, that 
he gave it to a Dog, and that he died in a very 
short time. — I afterwards saw an acct in the Lon- 
don Paper of this same Frenchman being taken 
up in England for some Crime and condemned to 
dye. — At his Execution he acknowledged the fact 
of his having murdered a great number of Rebels 
in the Hospital at New York, by poyson. — That 
on his reporting to Genl Howe the number of the 
Prisoners dead, he raised his pay — He further con- 
fessed that he poisoned the wells used by the 
American flying Camp, which caused such an 
uncommon Mortality among them in the year 1776. 



the boudinot journal. 37 

Capture of Yorktown.— Count de Grasse 
Threatens to Withdraw the French 
Troops — Washington's Expedient which 
LED TO the Capitulation. 



At the Siege of York Town ; the French Troops 
brought out by Count De Grasse, were absolutely 
necessary to compleat the line of Circiimvallation, 
and perfect the siege— about 2 days before the 
Capture. The Count sent word to Genl Wash- 
ington that he should within 48 Hours withdraw 
those Troops & that he must provide accordingly 
— This was in effect raising the Siege. Genl Wash- 
ington remonstrated agt it in vain. He sent the 
Marquiss La Fayette on Board the Fleet to dis- 
suade Count de Grasse from so ruinous a measure, 
he obstinately presisted, and said his orders were 
positive & not discretionary. 

Genl Washington finding that nothing but ^'^ 
storming the enemies lines would prevent the rais- 
ing of the Siege, and that would unnecessarily 
occasion the loss of great numbers on both sides, 

to avoid which he fell on the following expedient 

He sent out Col Hamilton with some other officers 
with a Flag of Truce on some business— They 
were met half way by a number of British officers. 
They carried with them something to eat and drink 
In Conversation they mentioned to the British Offi- 
cers, their concern for them as Gentn. & Soldiers 



38 THE BOUDTNOT JOURNAL. 

that the American Army had determined to Storm 
their Unes. — that the American Soldiery & Country 
People were so exasperated at the Conduct of the 
British to the Southward, that they could not answer 
for the Consequences, as they did not think they 
could be restrained by authority and Discipline — 
That they knew Genl Washington's humane Tem- 
per, and his wish to avoid the unnecessary shedding 
of blood. That in Case of a Capitulation the same 
Terms the British gave to our Troops at Charles 
Town, with the addition of the Officers wearing 
side Arms & being immediately sent on their parole 
into l^ew York they believed might be obtained. 
That they did not wish their names to be mentioned 
&c &c Within a few Hours after their return pro- 
posals for surrendering on Terms were sent out, and 
the capitulation took place — Count De Grasse re- 
mained several days (notwithstanding the Positive 
I^ature of his Orders) to enjoy the pleasure of the 
surrender, the rejoicings &c &c. Genl Washington 
then earnestly requested his landing a Body of 
American Troops near Eden Town IS^orth Caro- 
lina, that the British in that neighborhood might 
be surprised, but he obstinately refused, Then he 
spent twice the time necessary for the purpose doing 
nothing before he left the Coast. 

When the messenger brought the ^ews of this 
Capitulation to Congress, it was necessary to fur- 
nish him with hard money for his expenses. There 
was not a sufficiency in the Treasury to do it, and 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 39 

the Members of Congress, of which 1 was one, 
each paid a Dollar to accomplish it. — 

Before the Capture & at the first preparation for 
the Siege, before Count De Grasse arrived, Genl 
Clinton sent a row Boat well manned with a Con- 
fidential Officer along the Coast to get into York 
Town with a letter to Lord Cornwallis, setting forth 
his situation and the impossibility of his relieving 
him with a fleet till a certain day, and encouraging 
him to hold out till that period — The Boat was driven 
on shore some where near ^gg Harbor and the Crew 
taken and brought to Philadelphia One of the 
men discovered in private, where they were bound 
& that the confidential letter had been hidden under 
a certain large Stone on the Shore by the Officer — 
A Person was sent to the Place & brought it to 
Congress. It was in Cypher and after some trouble 
it was discovered to be in three different Cyphers, 
However it was decyphered by a Mr Lovel a Mem- 
ber of Congress from Boston, after about two days 
labour. — The original letter was carefully returned 
to the Stone or some means used so that it finally 
got to Lord Cornwallis, but not before Count De 
Grasse's arrival, and having the Copy fairly trans- 
lated — By this means he was enabled to counteract 
all their intended Meneuvres. — 

The Siege of York Town was merely acsidental 
— General Washington the Fall and Winter be- 
fore, had planned with a Committee of Congress, 
the storming of the works at New York and the 



40 THE BOUDINOT JOUtlNAL. 

repossession of that City — He communicated his 
design to the French General and the arrival of 
Count De Grasse with a French fleet was part of 
the Plan — Requisitions on the different States for 
a supply of Men. to the necessary amount ; was 
duly made by Congress, They to be in the field 
by a given day. 

The necessary preparation, especially a number 
of very large battering Cannon were provided, a 
little before the expected reinforcement. The 
Marquiss La Fayette was very hard pressed by the 
British in Virginia — he had not Men enough to 
make head agt them, and was driven to a depend- 
ance on Manouevering altogether — He wrote to 
Genl Washington for aid alleging the impossibility 
of maintaining his ground without a reinforcement, 
General Washington answered him by letting him 
into his Designs on New York. — That he must do 
as well as he could with the force he had, as he 
could not spare him a man. — but when the enemy 
should discover his intention it would work a diver- 
sion in the Marquiss' favour. This letter we sent by 
the mail. This was captured in passing thro' Jer- 
sey and the letter fell into the Enemy s Hands. 
Thus his whole design was destroyed, with the 
weakness of the Marquiss. — However preparation 
went on, but the Day for the assembling the 
Troops arrived, and the supplies did not more than 
fill up the places of the sick & Dead thro' the 
Winter — The General remonstrated to Congress of 



tHE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 41 

the State in vein. — His numbers were not half suf- 
ficient to justify an attack on 'New York. He 
feared he should become the dirision of the French 
Army & the Enemy — His mind ever full of re- 
sources, immediately suggested the plan of taking 
advantage of the Enemies knowledge of his plans. 
— He wrote to congress, had a confidential & secret 
Committee appointed (of which I was one) imme- 
diately assembled the Army, (such as it was) in 
the County of Essex & Morris, near ^N^ew York. 
Had the large battering Cannon sent on at a Heavy 
Expense from Philadelphia — Erected very even 
at Chatham about Eleven Miles above Elizabeth- 
Town — Every one was on Tip toe with the expec- 
tation of soon entering into New York, — On the 
Morning of his intended departure, about day 
light, he sent for an old Inhabitant of ^ew York 
who lived in the Neighborhood and who was sus- 
pected of giving Intelligence to the Enemy. — and 
put a number of important Questions to him, 
about the situation of the Country in & about 
Middle town & Sandy Hook in the County of 
Monmouth where the man was born & bred. — also 
as to the state of the land on the opposite shore on 
Long Island — with regard to landing of Troops, 
"Water <fec. alleging that he was fond of knowing 
the situation of different parts of the Country as in 
the course of the war he might unexpectedly be 
called into that part of the Country — He urged 
upon him the most profound secrecy and by no 



425 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

means to lisp a word of what had passed between 
them — In one hour the Army marched apparently 
for Princeton which might be a good road to Mon- 
mouth, if a deception was intended — I happened to 
be in the neighborhood of the Army, and about 
Ten O'clock called on the Man on whom the Genl. 
had enjoined so much secrecy, and to Convince me 
that the Siege of 'New York was determined & 
that by the way of Monmouth & Long Island, he 
told me every thing that had passed between him 
& the General, and I doubt not but that the British 
Genl. had it also the same night. The British un- 
suspected any other design, till they were informed 
that the American Army had passed the Dela- 
ware. — Then it was too late — When they arrived 
at Philadelphia, the Army discovered great dis- 
content at not receiving certain arrears of pay, 
long withheld from them. It was thought neither 
prudent nor safe to proceed farther without making- 
pay at least, in part. Money was also wanted to 
hire Vessels & other means to proceed down the 
Chesapeak Bay. The Treasury was empty. Con- 
gress had no means to raise the money. — Requisi- 
tion had been resorted to in vain. — In this exigency 
the vigorous exertions of the Honl. Robt Morris 
the superintendent of Finances, relieved their dis- 
tress. — He went out among his Mercantile & other 
Friends, and borrowed on his own responsibility 
upwards of 30,000 dollars which answered every 
purpose, and the Army soon appeared before York- 
Town 



the boudinot journal. 43 

Cartel for Exchange op Prisoners. — Ex- 
plaining THE Perfidy of General Howe 
AND THE Manner in which the Continental 
Congress Insulted General Washington. 



In the Winter of 1778 while laying at Valley 
Forge, both Armies called loudly for the Exchange 
of Prisoners. — Propositions were accordingly made 
by the British to which Congress agreed, by giving 
full powers to appoint Commissioners to meet a like 
number on the part of the British for the Purpose 
— The General accordingly appointed Col Hamil- 
ton, Col Harrison, Col Grayson, & myself. — Genl 
Howe appointed Col O'Harah, Col Stevens & Capt 
Fitz-Patrick, and we were to meet at German 
Town. — Previous to the meeting, as it was a matter 
quite new to us, we proposed a meeting of General 
Officers with Genl Washington, that we might dis- 
cuss the business before them and know their opin- 
ions. — About this Time Congress sent a committee 
of their Body, into the Army to reform it Genl 
Washington called this committee to the meeting. 
— Genl Washington sat as Chairman — We dis- 
cussed the matter over. — The Committee of Con- 
gress soon discovered their Sentiments agt an 
Exchange and urged it as the opinion of Congress. 
That settling this Cartel should be merely ostensible 
for the purpose of satisfying the Army and throw- 
ing the blame on the British, but true policy 



44 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

required us to avoid an Exchange of Prisoners just 
at the opening of the Campaign. — We absolutely- 
refused to undertake the Business on these princi- 
ples, if we went, we were determined to make the 
best Cartel we could for the liberation of our 
Prisoners, — That we would not be made Instru- 
ments in so dishonorable a measure — Genl Wash- 
ington also executed it, and said his Troops looked 
up to him as their protector, and that he would not 
suffer an opportunity to be lost, of liberating every 
Soldier who was then in Captivity let the Conse- 
quence be what it might, The Committee were 
much disgusted and soon left the Army, (whom 
they gave much dissatisfaction) and returned to 
Congress — Before the meeting of the Commis- 
sioners General Washington, reed a resolution of 
Congress couched in the most insulting Terms, 
setting forth that he had appointed Commissioners 
to settle the Cartel, whom he knew held principles 
adversary to the true interests of America &c &c. 
On this I applied to the General & desired to be 
excused from the service. — He refused, ordered us 
to the Duty, and told us to make the best treaty in 
our power, and he would ratify it, and take the 
risque upon himself. In the month of June after 
this I went as a delegate to Congress, and the first 
thing I did was to search the secret minutes for 
this resolution of Congress, determined to have 
them expunged from the Minutes. — IS^ot being able 
to find it, I applied to President Lawrence, to know 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 45 

where I might find it,— He laughed & said that 
Congress was so ashamed of the measure that was 
run upon them by the Committee from the Army, 
that in two or three days after, they had expunged 
the whole from their minutes. — 

On the day of 1778 the Commissioners 

set out with a Captains Guard of Horse for German 
Town— where we met the British Commisrs with 
great Ceremony.— It had been previously agreed 
that the Town should be neutral Ground, while our 
Business lasted, and no Troops but our different 
Guards should enter, — we exchanged our Powers — 
and agreed to Dine together, — we were very soci- 
able — We had previously obtained the Characters 
of our opponents and were convinced that they de- 
pended much on out drinking us, we knew Coll 
Grayson was a match for any of them, and therefor 
left all that part of the business with him. — They 
soon found themselves foiled — The next day we met, 
and objected to their Powers not being sufficiently 
full, and proposed that as they were Military Men, 
They should take the lead we being wholly unac- 
quainted with the business and that they should 
propose a plan of a Cartel, which we might be con- 
sidering, till they renewed their Powers.- They 
accepted it, and as we had forseen drew out from 
among their Papers, a Cartel ready drawn up in 
form.— To this we had nothing to do but object & 
propose amendments, which they were not prepared 
to confute, and easily fell into our measures. It 



46 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

soon appeared that neither of them had ever con- 
sidered the subject, but depended on the Draught 
prepared for them. 

The Third day we were going on very well, and 
should soon have finished much to our satisfaction, 
had we not been guilty of a blunder, which ruined 
us. The British commissioners after Dinner told 
us, that they had engaged to attend a grand Ball 
that was given that evening in the City, and earn- 
estly solicited that we would gratify them by con- 
senting to them going into the City, when they 
would mention their objections to their powers, and 
they would be out early in the morning, as it was 
but 7 Miles, we could not well refuse — They accord- 
ingly went, and I suppose reported to Genl Howe 
their progress — The next morning. They came out 
in good time and we proceed to business. — When 
we had finished for the morning. Col O'Hara ad- 
dressing himself to us, said, that however disagree- 
able the Task was to them, and however contrary 
to their first Ideas, it was their positive orders from 
Genl Howe to inform us, that he did not consider 
German Town I^Teutral ground, after we adjoined 
for the night, and a reasonable time allowed for us 
to return to our army. — That it was only in obedi- 
ence to positive orders, that they could have been 
prevailed upon to communicate this to us. We 
immediately started at the proposition, gathered up 
the Papers on the Table, and told them, we under- 
stood Genl Howe's meaning that we considered 
ourselves ill used by such a breach of public Faith, 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 47 

and therefore should, after Dinner, return to Head 
Quarters, and not to meet again. — They pretended 
to be much hurt with our Idea of its being a 
breach of the public Faith, and made many Ex- 
cuses. We persisted in our resolution, — They 
finding they could make no impression on us, in- 
vited themselves to dine with us. — We immediately 
perceived their drift was to keep us engaged till it 
was too late to go, or by drinking freely to prevent 
us. — We were on our guard & set Col. Grayson to 
manage them They accordingly sat after dinner 
with Grayson while we were preparing to go ofl', 
till they could scarcely sit upright. Just before 
sundown they were put on their Horses & went for 
the City. It now became indeed too late for us to 
go, we therefore determined to set olf by daylight 
in the morning, we breakfasted before it was 
scarcely light, and just as we were going ofl', a 
Trumpet was heard, and a flag appeared. They 
brought a letter from the Genl. begging we w^ould 
delay an hour or two, and they would be out with 
us again, — but we refused and set oft" for Head 
Quarters. Genl Washington approved of our pro- 
ceedings, and wrote a very tart letter to Genl 
Howe, charging him with a breach of his pledged 
faith, — He in answer made very poor excuses, say- 
ing that he was misunderstood and hoped that 
matters would be set right by another Meeting at 
^ew Town. — After some hesitation on our part 
and warm solicitation on the part of the british, 
another meeting was agreed to at 'New Town about 



48 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

20 miles from Philadelphia. Genl Howe expressly 
& unequivocally pledging his Faith for a positive 

neutrality. 

Here we continued disputing their powers &c 
proceeding in the business for Ten Days. When 
the Cartel was just finished, Col O'Harah in walk- 
ing out with us, addressed us thus, Gentn: you 
have behaved, since we have been together, with 
so much propriety and as Gentlemen, that we feel 
hurt at any kind of Hypocricy or unfair dishonor- 
able Conduct on our part, which our obedience to 
orders may oblige us to use. We can therefor no 
longer keep a secret from you which you ought to 
know, Tho' we trust for our sakes you will keej) 
entirely to yourselves. — We have spent a great 
deal of Time disputing about the insufficiency of 
our Powers &c in making a Cartel with you, at 
the same time knowing that Genl Howe has no 
authority to agree to it, which is the true cause of 
our powers appearing as they do. We have it 
therefore in positive orders from him that when 
we can prolong the business no longer to make 
some excuse & to break off the Treaty — This we 
consider as dishonorable Conduct, and merely 
done to satisfy the British Army & try to throw 
the blame on you, but this is our situation and we 
candidly reveal it to you in Confidence, to free 
yourselves from blame. It is therefore in vain for 
us to spend longer time in settling the Treaty. — 
let us continue together till our stores are ex- 
hausted & then seperate. — We acknowledged 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 49 

ourselves greatly surprised at this unofficerlike Con- 
duct in a British General at the head of such an 
Army.— but we knew the effect of orders & that 
they must be obeyed— that perhaps we might 
make such a report to our General as might give 
them offence, or they might do the same, and dis- 
please us. We therefore proposed, that we should 
in writing make our objections to their Powers as 
insufficient for the purpose being essentially de- 
fective for settling a Cartel. That they should 
answer it and we would reply.— That their written 
Papers should be our mutual report. — To this with 
great difficulty they agreed & not without the aid 
of Capt Fitzpatrick, who approved of it at once. 
The Papers were drawn up accordingly, and these 
formed the bases of our Report, and we seperated. — 
At the taking leave Col O'Harah said, now if I 
am ever taken prisoner, I shall call on Col Hamil- 
ton,— Col Harrison, Col Boudinot &c and I expect 
you'll immediately come to my aid & take care 
of me.— And if any you are taken Prisoners, call 
upon us & we will return the compliment. — At the 
capitulation of York Town, Lord Cornwallis being 
sick, Col O'Harah, the second in command, deliv- 
ered up his sword on the Parade to Genl Lincoln, 
and immediately called out for Col Hamilton. He 
came up. — now sir, said he, perform your promise 
the' when you made it, I little thought that I 
should ever have an opportunity of requiring your 
performance of it. — Col Hamilton accordingly 
took care of him. 



50 THlfi BOUblNOT JOURNAL. 

■ 

Lydia Darrah Conveys the News of General 
Howe's Movements to Elias Boudinot, 
WHEN THE British were in Possession of 
Philadelphia. 



British Army at Chestnut Hill. 

In the Autumn of 1777 the American Army lay 
some time at White Marsh. I was then Commissary 
Genl of Prisoners, and managed the Intelligence of 
the Army. — I was reconoitering along the Lines near 
the City of Philadelphia. — I dined at a small Post 
at the rising Sun abt three miles from the City. — 
After Dinner a little poor looking insignificant Old 
Woman came in & solicited leave to go into the 
Country to buy some flour — While we were asking 
some Questions, she walked up to me and put into 
my hands a dirty old needlebook, with various 
small pockets in it. sui-prised at this, I told her to 
return, she should have an answer — On Opening 
the needlebook, I could not find any thing till I got 
to the last Pocket, Where I found a piece of Paper 
rolled up into the form of a Pipe Shank. — on un- 
rolling it I found information that Genl Howe was 
coming out the next morning with 5000 Men — 13 
pieces of Cannon — Baggage Waggons, and 11 
Boats on Waggon Wheels. On comparing this 
with other information I found it true, and immedi- 
ately rode Post to head Quarters — According to 



THE BOUDINOT JOUENAL. 51 

my usual Custom & agreeable to orders rec from 
Greni W. I first related to him the naked facts with- 
out comment or Opinion — He rec. it with much 
thoughtfulness, I then gave him my opinion, that 
Genl Howe's design was to Cross the Deleware 
under pretense of going for New York. — Then in 
the IN'ight to rccross the Deleware above Bristol & 
come suddenly on Our Rear, when we were totally 
unguarded and cut off all our Baggage, if not the 
whole Army. — He heard me without a single ob- 
servation, being deep in thought. I repeated my 
observations. He still was silent — supposing myself 
unattended to — I earnestly repeated my Opinion, 
with urging him to order a few redoubts thrown 
up in our rear, as it was growing late. — The Genl 
Answered me, Mr Boudinot the Enemy have no busi- 
ness in our rear. The Boats are designed to deceive 
us. — To morrow morning by day light you will find 
them coming down such a bye Road on our left. 
Then calling an Aid du Camp ordered a line thrown 
up along our whole front at the foot of the Hill. 
As I was quartered on that very Bye Road with 6 
or 8 other Officers, a Mile in front of our Army, 
and no Pickett advanced of us. This opinion 
made a deep Impression upon me Tho' I thot the 
General under a manifest mistake. — I returned to 
my Quarters first obtaining a Pickett to be put on 
that road in Advance. When I got home the 
Officers were informed of the News, and my opin- 
ion that we should loose our Baggage at least, the 



52 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

next morning. That our General was at least out in 
his Judgment, but repeated his last words. — Pro- 
posed it as a matter of prudence to have our Horses 
saddled & the Servs ordered to have them at the 
door on the first alarm gun being fired — About 
three O'clock in the Morning we were roused by 
the Alarm Guns. — We immediately mounted and 
by Sunrise, The British was in possession of our 
Quarters down the Bye Road, mentioned by Genl 
Washington. — I then said that I never would again 
set up any Judgment agt. his — The Enemy re- 
mained several days encamped on Chestnut Hill & 
Genl Washington opposite to him — On the Even- 
ing of the 2d or 3d day. Genl Washington was in- 
formed of some very harsh and severe speeches made 
by a Committee from Congress, of whom Robt 
Morris was one, relative to Genl Washington for 
not attacking the British & putting an End to the 
War at once, and declaring that if he did not do it, 
further opposition to the British was vain &c &c. 
The fact was that both parties were as strongly 
covered, that the assailant in all probability would 
have been beaten, and the essential interests of 
America required that the Americans should gain 
the Battle — However Genl Washington being ex- 
ceedingly hurt with these Observations & hard 
speeches, determined at all events to hazard an 
attack & let the Committee abide the Consequences. 
Accordingly he detached Genl Wayne with his 
Brigade to advance on the Enemy, into the Valley 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 53 

between the two Armies, & near the foot of Ches- 
nut Hill, to be ready in the morning — Another 
Brigade was advanced part of the way towards 
him. — A spy who was in onr Camp immediately 
on Wayne's moving, carried the intelligence to the 
British General. A skirmish was had in the day 
and one of our Militia Generals wounded. & taken 
Prisoner — He was put into a Room adjoining one 
in which a British Aid du Camp lodged. He over- 
heard an Officer come in & tell him that the Rebels 
were advancing to make an attack the next morn- 
ing, and that their retreat was ordered by the British 
General. — When the American Troops began their 
movement next morning at the dawn of day not a 
British soldier was to be seen. — The li^ht Horse 
persued & came up & harassed the rear of the 
British a few Miles from Philadelphia. — Thus the 
defeat of the American Army was again providen- 
tially prevented, for we were by no means equal to 
the attack as the British were so strongly posted, 
and our Army made up of undisciplined Men. 



54 the boudinot journal. 

Providential Escape of the American Army, 
AT Morris Town, I^Tew Jersey. 

Another providential Escape of our Army hap- 
pened at Morris Town in the year 1777-8^0ur 
Army was exceedingly reduced so that 3000 effect- 
ive men were the full amount of the whole. & those 
very poorly found. To prevent this being known 
Genl "Washington distributed them by 2 & 3 in a 
House, all along the main Roads round Moms Town 
for miles, so that the General expectation among 
the Country people was, that we were 40000 strong. 

Genl Howe desirous of knowing our real strength, 
sent over a Gentn of some character, a Mercht in 
'New York, as a spy into our Camp. — He told sad 
stories about the treatment he had reed from the 
British and that he had deserted from them. The 
Adjutant Genl. finding from several Circumstances 
that he was really a Spy. applied to Genl Washing- 
ton for an order to take him up and confine him. — 
The Genl examined into the Circumstances & find- 
ing the suspicions well supported, forbid the Adju- 
tant General from touching him, but ordered him 
to go home & immediately to draw returns from 
every Brigadier in the Army of the number of 
their Brigade, making the Army to consist of about 
12,000 effective Men &c &c to place these in the 
paper holes on his Desk, and then to get introduced 
to the Spy., and invite him to lodge with him. — To 
endeavor to get him to sup with him alone, — About 
9 O'clock in the Evening to have an orderly ser- 
geant to call on him with positive orders that the 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 55 

Adjutant should attend the General in haste that 
then he should make an excuse to the Gentn sus- 
pected as a spy. and leave him alone about half an 
hour. — This was done, and in this Interval as was 
suspected the Spy, took a Copy of the returns, and 
next morning went off with them to ^ew York. — 
This Convinced Genl Howe that we were too strong 
to be attacked & saved us thro' the Winter. 

A Col Luce who was taken Prisoner at Eliza- 
bethtown was confined to a House in Morris Town., 
in a family disaffected to our cause, on his parole. 
— He found out our real situation and obtained full 
acct. of our weakness, and. indeed returns of the 
Army. Artillery &c with our poverty, sickness &c 
&c according to the truth, with these, expecting to 
make his fortune He broke his parole & run off to 
New York. He was introduced to Genl Howe 
and with great zeal communicated the whole secret 
Genl Howe called for the returns brought by the 
spy ; and then in the severest tone, charged Col 
Luce with joining the Rebels in endeavouring to 
impose upon him and draw him out into the Country, 
and threatened to hang him up at the first tree, 
Luce was terrified beyond description as Howe 
produced copies of the returns from the American 
Brigadiers obtained in such a manner that there 
could be no doubt. Luce was glad to escape with 
his life. Mortified and chagrined with having broken 
his Parole & at last dissapointed and treated with 
contempt & great Severity, he took to drink ^ 
killed himself by it in the end, 



56 the boudinot journal. 

Motion made in Congress to Execute Lord 
cornwallis, in retaliation for the mur- 
der of Colonel Haines, and Cruelties 
Committed on Prisoners in Philadelphia. 



Treatment op Prisoners in Philadelphia 
Jany and Feb 1778 

Various Reports having reached us with regard 
to the Extreme Sufferings of our Prisoners in 
Philadelphia, I was directed by the Commander in 
Chief to make particular inquiry into the truth. 
After sometime I obtained full Information of their 
Sufferings. It was proved by some Militia of good 
Character, that on being taken they were put under 
care of the General's Guard & kept 4 & 5 days 
without the least food. That on the 5th day they 
were taken into the Provost, where a small quan- 
tity of Raw Pork was given to them. One of 
their number seized and devoured it with so much 
eagerness, that he immediately dropped down dead 
— that the Provost Marshal used to sell their pro- 
visions & leave them to starve, as he did their Al- 
lowance of Wood. — I reed information of a British 
Officer, who confided in my Integrity — that he 
happened in the Provost, just at the time the pro- 
vost Marshal (Cunningham) was looking up the 
Prisoners. He had ordered them from the Yard 
into the House. Some of them being ill with the 
Dysentery, could scarcely walk, and for not coming 
faster he would beat them with his Rattan. — ^One 
being in the necessary delayed longer than the rest, 
on his coming up Cunningham gave him a blow 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 57 

with one of the large Keys, of the Goal — which 
killed him on the Spot ; The Officer exceedingly 
affected with the sight, went next day and lodged 
a formal Complaint of the Murder with Genl 
Howe's Aid. After waiting some days ; and not dis- 
covering any measures taken for the tryal of Cun- 
ningham, he again went to head Quarters & re- 
quested to see the General, but was refused, he 
repeated his Complaint to his Aid, and told him if 
this past unpunished, it would become disreputable 
to wear a british Uniform. No notice being taken, 
the Officer determined to furnish one privately 
with the means of proof of the Facts, so that Genl 
Washington might remonstrate to Genl Howe on 
the subject. — I reported them with the other Testi- 
mony I had collected to Genl W He accord- 
ingly wrote in pretty strong Terms to Genl Howe 
and fixed a day, when if he did not receive a satis- 
factory answer, he would retaliate on the Prisoners 
in his Custody. — On the day, he reed an answer, 
from Genl Howe, acknowledging that on Exami- 
nation, he found that Cunningham had sold the 
Prisoners Rations publicly in the Market. That 
he had therefor removed him fi'om the Charge of 
the Prisoners & appointed Mr Henry H. Fergu- 
son in his place. — This gave us great pleasure as 
we knew Mr Ferguson to be a Gentn of Character 
& great Humanity and the issue justified our Ex- 
pectations — But to our great surprise Mr Cunning- 
ham was only removed fi'om the Charge of the Pris- 
oners in Philadelphia & sent to that of J^ew York, 



58 THE BOUDINOT JOUBNAL. 

Soon after this, great complaints being made of 
our Prisoners being likely to perish for want of 
Cloathing & Blankets, having been mostly stripped 
& robbed of their Cloaks when taken. Applica- 
tion was made for permission to purchase, (with the 
Provisions which the British Wanted) Blankets & 
cloathing, which should be used only by the Pris- 
oners while in Confinement. — This was agreed to, 
as we were informed by our own Agent as well as 
by the British Commissioner — Provisions were 
accordingly attempted to be sent in. When Genl 
Howe pretending to ignorance in the business, 
forbid the provisions to be admitted, or the Blank- 
ets to be purchased. — On this I gave notice to the 
British commissary that after a certain day. they 
must provide food for their prisoners South West 
of Kew Jersey, & to be sent in from their lines, 
as they should no longer be allowed to purchase 
provisions with us. The line drawn, arose from 
our being at liberty to purchase in 'New York, — 
This made a great noise, when Genl Howe on re- 
ceiving Genl Robertsons letter from Kew York 
before mentioned, urging the propriety of the 
measures, issued an order that every Person in 
Philadelphia who had a Blanket to sell or to spare, 
should bring them into the Kings Stores. — When 
this was done, he then gave my agent permission 
to purchase Blankets & cloathing in the City of 
Philadelphia. — On my agent attempting it, he 
found every Blanket in the City, purchased by the 
agents for the Army, so that not a Blanket could 



THE BOUDINOT JOUENAL. 59 

be had. — My Agent knowing the necessities of our 
Prisoners, immediately employed persons in every 
part of the city, and. before Genl Howe could dis- 
cover his omission, purchased up every piece of 
Flannel, he could meet with & mad it up into a 
kind of Blanket, which answered our purpose — 

Lord Cornwallis while Commanding in South 
Carolina had behaved with great Cruelty to the 
Citizens, in the Opinion of the delegates from that 
State, and was specially charged with the Murder 
of Col Haines, under pretext of Martial Law. — 
This enraged the Gentlemen from the Southward, 
& particularly a Mr. Middleton and soon after 
Lord Cornwallis' Capture, a Motion was made in 
Congress, that General Washington should cause 
his Lordship to be executed in retaliation of Col 
Haines and other cruelties committed by him — 
This motion was strongly advocated by a very 
large party in the House, and the prospect of its 
success greatly alarmed many moderate Members 
of Congress. — Mr Duane & Myself opposed it with 
all our powers, as contrary to all good faith, hav- 
ing entered into a Capitulation with him, after the 
facts committed, & having knowledge of them. — 
That it would Expose our Commander in Chief to 
the necessity of resigning his Command or forfeit- 
ing his Honor & Reputation &c &c &c. The 
debate continued several Day's and with great dif- 
ficulty we succeeded in putting a negative on it, by 
a small Majority 



60 the boudinot joubnal. 

Washington and Congress Decide to Execute 
Captain Asgill of the British Army, in 
Retaliaton for the Foul Murder of Cap- 
tain HuDDY, but his Life is Spared at the 
Request of the King and Queen of France. 



In the Year Govr Franklin as the head of 

the Refugees, sent out a party of Refugees into 
the County of Monmouth ^N^ew Jersey, & took 
Capt Huddy prisoner — By their particular Orders 
he was hanged in a very insulting a cruel manner, 
under pretense of retaliation for a Person who was 
shot in the Act of running away from his Guard. 
— This made a great noise in our camp & thro'out 
the State — Genl Washington saw the necessity of 
not suffering so great an Act of Barbarity con- 
trary to all the Rules of civilized Warfare, to pass 
unnoticed — He therefore sent immediate orders to 
Lancaster where a number of British Officers 
(Prisoners) were kept, to draw lotts for one who 
should be made an Example of. by being hanged 
in retaliation for Huddy, unless he obtained full 
satisfaction by the Enemy sending out the Author 
of the inhuman Act. — Notice of this was given to 
Congress, who readily approved the measure — 
Notice was also given to the British Commander 
in New York The Lott was drawn & it fell on 
Capt. Asgill Son of Sir Charles Asgill. He was 
accordingly sent to General Washington at Mooreg 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 61 

Town: a number of Officers of his Corps attended 
him, who were allowed ISTo remonstrates to their 
General — The British immediately ordered the 
Officer commanding the Party, to be arrested 
& tryed by a Court Marshal, and Notice of this 
was formally given to Genl Washington with a 
request that Asgils Execution might be delayed 
till the determination of the Court Marshal was 

known The sitting of the Court was drawn out 

to a great length, when finally the Prisoner was 
found not guilty of Murder with Malice prepense and 
a copy of the Proceedings were sent to Genl Wash- 
ington & by him to Congress. It clearly appeared 
from the Testimony that the Prisoner acted under 
orders from the Board of Refugees, of Which Govr 
Franklin was President, and that tho' the Prisoner 
might be entitled to the Acquittal, that yet Govr 
Franklin was the Culprit & should have been 
punished. 

Congress took the matter under full considera- 
tion, during which Genl Sir Guy Carleton arrived 
at N^ew York with the Title of Commander in 
Chief & the Preliminary Articles of Peace were 
anounced. — Genl Washington then wrote to Con- 
gress, that he had first proposed the retaliation on 
Capt. Asgil. as an Act of Mercy on the whole, to 
put a stop to the Enemy destroying the lives of 
our Citizens, in future as they had done in times 
past. That he had determined to carry it into execu- 
tion, not being satisfied with the result of the 



62 THE BOUDINOT JOUKNAL. 

Court Marshal. But that unexpectedly the pre- 
liminary Articles of Peace had wholly changed the 
ground — The Execution of an innocent person 
ought to have an object in view to prevent the un- 
necessary shedding of Blood — That the example now 
could not have any effect, as there would be nothing 
for it to operate upon &c &c. that therefore he 
should stay the Execution of Capt. Asgil. without 
an express order from Congress to the Contrary — 
A very large Majority of Congress were deter- 
mined on his Execution, and a Motion was made 
for a resolution positively ordering his immediate 
Execution — Mr Duane & Myself considering the 
reasons assigned by the Commander in Chief con- 
clusive, made all the opposition in our power, we 
urged every Argument that the peculiarity of the 
Case suggested and spent three days in warm de- 
bate, during which more ill blood appeared in the 
House, than I had seen. 'Near the Close of the third 
day, when every argument was exausted, without 
any appearance of success, the matter was brought 
to a close by the Question being ordered to be 
taken. — I again rose and told the House, that in so 
important a Case the life of an innocent Person 
was concerned, we had (Tho in a small minority) 
exerted ourselves to the utmost of our Power, we 
had acquitted of Conscience and wished our hands 
clear from the blood of that young man. That we 
saw his fate was sealed. That now we had nothing to 
do but request that the proceedings should appear 



ThE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 6^ 

without Doors, as being equal to the occasion, 
and the world should know that we had conducted 
the measure with a serious Solemnity That great 
warmth had been occasioned, some harsh language 
had taken place The Minds of Gentn had been irri- 
tated, I therefore moved that the Question should 
be put off till the next morning, on the Minority 
giving their Words, that they would not say 
another word on the subject but the Ques- 
tion should be taken in the first place, after the 
meeting as of course. — This was unanimously 
agreed to. — The next morning as soon as the 
minutes were read ; the President anounced a let- 
ter from the Commander in Chief — On its being 
read, it stated the Rect of a letter from the 
King & Queen of France & enclosing one from 
Mrs Asgil the Mother of Capt Asgil to the Queen., 
that on the whole were enough to move the heart 
of a Savage. — The subject was asking the life of 
young Asgil. — This operated like an electrical 
shock. Each member looking on his neighbor in 
surprise, as if saying here is unfair play. It was 
suspected to be some scheme of the Minority. — 
The President was interrogated, The Cover of 
the letter was called for. The GeneraPs Signature 
was examined. In short, it looked so much like 
something supernatural that even the minority, 
who were so much pleased with it. could scarcely 
think it real. After being fully convinced of the 
integrity of the Transaction, a motion was made 



64 THE BOUDIlsrOT JOURNAL. 

that the life of Capt Asgil should be given as a 
Compliment to the King of France. This was 
unanimously carried. — On which it was moved 
that the Commander in Chief should remand 
Capt Asgil to his Quarters at Lancaster. To this 
I objected. That as we considered Capt Asgil's 
Life as forfeited & and we had given him to the King 
of France, he was now a free man. and therefor 
I moved that he should be immediately returned 
into ]^ew York ; without Exchange. This also was 
unanimously adopted, and thus we got clear of 
shedding innocent Blood, by a wonderful inter- 
vention of Providence. Capt Asgil soon sailed 
for England, and on his arrival he behaved without 
any sense of obligation for his escape. suflPering 
the most false & injurious accts of his liberation 
to be published in all the News Papers, without an 
attempt to contradict them — Indeed I found gen- 
erally that the British OflS.cers did not think them- 
selves bound to keep their word, or perform acts 
of common gratitude & generosity with rebels. In 
this charge I refer to those who were Prisoners, 
with us. but I must here except Col. afterwards 
Sir Archibald Campbell, who behaved in every in- 
stance as a man of strict honor & unbounded be- 
nevolence. Tho' treated by us, Thro' a Mistake, the 
worst of any Prisoner during the war. 

Among our first exchange a number of the 
British Prisoners (Officers) in Connecticut, could 
not repay the money that had been advanced to 



THE BOUDINOT JOUENAL. 65 

them for their support, without which they could 
not be liberated, — Loath to keep them Prisoners, 
I accepted in lieu of money, their Bills drawn on 
their friends in London. These I sent to 'New 
York for sale. — General Howe refused permission 
for selling them. — I then had them remitted to 
London. — They were all protested but one — And 
the Person on whom one was drawn by Ensign or 
Lieut Koland, annexed to the protest an original 
letter from ]N"oland to him. advising of his hav- 
ing drawn, but requesting him not to pay the Bill, 
as he did not think himself bound to keep faith 
with rebels. — After the Peace I catched this Gent 
in America and made him pay it, with full interest. 
In like Circumstances, a Major Edminston was 
Exchanged who owed forty Pounds, I left him go 
on a Solemn promise to ' send the money immedi- 
ately on his arrival in Philadelphia, not hearing 
from him for a considerable time I wrote to him 
upbraiding him with his breach of Promise. He 
gave me no Answer. I then wrote to the Com- 
missary of Prisoners remonstrating on this Con- 
duct, and assuring him that it would prevent (in 
future) any acts of kindness, of this sort towards 
Gentn in distress — He answered that he showed 
my letter to Edminston but reed no satisfaction 
from him — and he never paid it. 



66 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 



Washington Refuses to Punish a Known 
Traitor, Without Evidence. 



SuPRiSE OF Genl Lincoln at Bound Brook 

In 1777 Genl Lincoln, was surprised at the Dawn 
of Day in his Quarters at Bound Brook, by Lord 
Cornwallis. who had marched from Brunswick 
passed his out Centinels captured or destroyed his 
main guard, and was at the Genls Quarters before 
he knew anything of it. He had but just time to 
escape out of a back door. Several men were 
killed and one or two pieces of ordnance taken. It 
was sometime a mystery how this had been effected 
with so much secrecy, till I was well informed by 
a Gentn of note who was with the Enemy at 
Brunswick, that a certain Farmer whose name he 
mentioned and who lived in the midst of our Camp 
had communicated to Lord Cornwallis our Coun- 
tersign, by which he had accomplished his inten- 
tions. My spirit was very much aroused ags this 
Traitor and with great zeal I went to Genl Wash- 
ington with the information, stating the substance 
of it. but keeping back the name of my informant ; 
as he had assured me his life depended on my pru- 
dence & faithfulness to him ; I urged the Genl, (to 
give) orders to sieze the Culprit without delay & 
make an Example of him. The Genl did not immedi- 
ately answer me. on which I repeated my request. 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 67 

He then said, did not you tell me that the life of 
your informant depended on your secrecy, — would 
you take up a Citizen & confine him without 
letting him know his crime or his accuser.— 
N'o— let him alone for the present: watch him 
carefully, and if you can catch him in any other 
crime, so as to confront him by witnesses, we will 

then punish him severely. My mortification 

was very great, to think, that I who had entered 
the Ai-my to watch the Military & preserve the 
civil rights of my fellow citizens, should be so 
reproved by a Military man, who was so interested 
in having acted otherwise I reed it as a severe 
lecture on my own imprudence 



i*0 



his THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

The Manxer ix which Elias Boudixot Suc- 
ceeded IX Gettixg Coxgress to Pay him 
Back the Moxet he Advaxced to Feed 
axd Clothe Coxtixextal Soldiers, who 

WERE PrISOXEES OF WaR. 



My Acct. with Coxgress 

When I found every application to obtain hard 
Money from Congress for the Cloathing of our 
Prisoners in vain, I waited on Genl Washington, 
and proposed my resignation as my Character was 
at stake, having (on the promise of the Secret 
Committee to yield me every necessary aid) 
pledged myself to the Officers in Confinement 
that they should be regularly supplied ^^'ith every 
necessary, but they now suffered more than ever — 
In much distress & with tears in his eyes ; he as- 
sured me that if he was deserted by the Gentn of 
the Country, he should despair. He could not do 
every thing. He was Genl. Quarter Master & Com- 
missarv. Everv thino- fell on him & he was un- 
equal to the task. He gave me the most positive 
Eno-aofement that if I would contrive anv mode 
for their support & Comfort, he would confirm it as 

far as was in his Power On this I told him 

that I knew of but one way. & that was to borrow 
money on my own private Security He assured 
me that in case I did. and was not reimbursed by 
Congress, he would go an Equal sharer with me 



THE BOUDINOT JOUKNAL. 69 

in the loss. I then formed the plan of obliging 
Genl Burgoyne to pay hard money for the support 
of the British Prisoners whom we supplied with 
daily rations, and in the meantime proceeded to 
borrow money or take Goods in IS^ew York on my 
own Credit. — Thus I furnished 800 Officers with a 
handsome suit of Cloaths each, and 1100 men Avith 
a plain suit, Found them Blankets, Shirts &c. 
and added to their provisions found by the British 
a full half ration of Bread & Beef pr day. for up- 
wards of 15 months Part of this I supplied by 
sending Wheat & Flour to 'New York. & selling 
them for hard money, under leave from Genl Rob- 
ertson. Sometime in the beginning of the year 

1778 Congress Reed, from Genl Burgoyne nearly 
40,000 Dollars in hard money. In the beginning 
of 1778 I was chosen a Member of Congress, but 
continued in the Army till June. When Genl Wash- 
ington knowing that I was near Thirty Thousand 
Dollars in advance for the Prisoners, uro-ed me to 
go and take my seat in Congress, where I might 
get some of the hard money reed from Genl Bur- 
goyne. before it was all expended, for if it was 
once gone. I should be totally ruined I accord- 
ingly left the Army & found Congress on their 
return from York Town in Pennsylvania ; after the 
British had evacuated the City of Philadelphia. — 
I applied to the Chamber of Acct. and with Great 
difficulty got my acct settled. A very large Bal- 
lance was found in my favor, and a wan-ant ordered 



70 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

for 15000 Dolls Continental and a report made that 
I had actually advanced the Cash, and there was 
upwards of Ten Thousand Pounds hard money 
that I yet owed. — I urged the appointment of a 
Committee of Congress to an examination of these 
expenditures & to report upon them. — Richard. 
Henry Lee & Wm Duer were accordingly ap- 
pointed, and after a full Examination reported the 
sum of Twenty Six Thousand Six hundred & 
Sixty Six Dollars & 73°! in specie, for which they 
recommended a warrant to be immediately issued. 
On Considering the report Mr Dana from Massa- 
chusetts. & Mr Merchant from Rhode Island op- 
posed the report of the Committee with great inso- 
lence, insisting that as Mr Boudinot had taken up 
this money at the instance of Genl Washington, 
without the approbation of Congress, he had no 
right to be paid but in Continental money as other 
Creditors of Conoress. — After much altercation I 
got up & informed the House that I had borrowed 
this money on my private Credit, in the City of 
New York. — That I should never ask the House 
for the payment of it again — That I should on my 
return home, sell what property I had & pay as 
far as that would go, and then publish to the world 
why I was insolvent for the Balance. — But also 
informed the House, that even to that moment, our 
prisoners in JS^ew York were fed & cloathed on my 
Private Credit. — That I would immediately send 
orders, to stop farther issues to them on my acct. 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 71 

in 10 days, and desired provision might be made 
for these unhappy people after the expiration of 
that time, on which they went to other business 
without doing anything on the Report. 

I sent orders to my Agent in JS^ew York, and all 
further issues were stopped accordingly. 

The Latter end of July. I reed a very affecting 
letter from my Agent, painting the destitution of 
the Prisoners in so striking a manner, and the death 
of several more than had been usual ; That I could 
not longer persist in my determination of silence 
on the subject. Having reed this letter in Con- 
gress, I rose with tears in my eyes, and reminding 
them of my former promise begged leave to break 
thro' it, so far as to read the letter which I did. — 
On this Mr Duer, (a man of much feeling) rose 
and in a speech of more than half an hour declaimed 
so severely agst the ungrateful Conduct of the 
House, that a unanimous vote immediately passed 
for a warrant in my favor £10.000 in specie, which 
was immediately sent to Xew York. 



Scarcity of Powder at Boston. 

When our Army lay before Boston in 1775, our 
Powder was so nearly Expended, That General 
Washington told me that he had not more than 
Eight Rounds, a Man, Altho' he had then near 14 
miles of line to guard, and that he dare not fire an 
Evening or Morning (run, In this situation one 



72 THE BOUDINOT JOUENAL. 

of the Committee of Safety for Massachusetts, who 
was privy to the whole secret, deserted and went 
over to Genl Gage, and discovered our poverty to 
him. The fact was so incredible, That Genl Gage 
treated it as a stratagem of war, and the infonnant 
as a spy : or coming with the express purpose of 
deceiving him & drawing his Army into a snare, 
by which means we were saved from having our 
Quarters beaten up. — I was the chairman of the 
Committee of safety at Elizabeth Town, and had 
about six or Seven Quarter Casks of Powder, which 
on urgent application from Genl Washington were 
sent to Boston, with what could be spared from 
Kew York. 



the boudinot journal. 73 

The History of the Exchange of General 
Charles Lee, who was Captured by the 
British, Describing his Indelicate Behav- 
ior IN General Washington's House, and 
Narrating his Infamous Tirade Against 
Washington, and his Ridiculous Proposi- 
tion TO Congress. 



Exchange of Genl Lee &c &c &c 

In Dec 1776. Genl Lee being taken prisoner at 
his Quarters at. Baskinridge in the County of Som- 
erset (New Jersey) about 4 Miles to the left of his 
Troops towards the Enemy, by his own extreme 
negligence & folly, was removed, (after the British 
Cantonments were beaten up. at Trenton & Prince- 
ton) to !N^ew York & confined to a handsome House, 
under the Care of 4 or 5 field OflScers, who lived 
with him & kept a genteel Table. — In this situation 
he sent to congress, requesting a Committee of their 
Body, might be sent over to him as he had something 
of consequence to communicate to them, and for 
the purpose sent Genl Howe's safe conduct, for their 
Security. This congress very justly refused & 
treated the application with deserved contempt. 
In January 1778. I was sent by Genl Washington 
over to Kew York (with consent of Genl Howe) 
to examine into the actual Situation of our Prison- 
ers, and had orders to pay particular attention to 
Genl Lee, and accomplish his exchange if possible. 



74 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

The Morning after my Arrival, I waited on Genl 
Lee who received me with great pleasure indeed, 
and asked me to Breakfast with him the next day. 
— This I did in company with the Officers who had 
the care of him, and was treated with Great polite- 
ness & Affibility When Breakfast was over, Genl 
Lee asked me up into his Room. — He soon began 
to complain very heavily of the treatment he had 
reed from Congress, in not complying with his re- 
quest. — I told him that I thought they had done 
perfectly right ; not to trust any of their members 
C ^ within the British Lines ; on such an Errand. He 

replied that he had obtained a safe passport for 
them from Genl Howe, and they might have come 
with the utmost safety. I then asked him what 
end could have been answered by their coming. — 
Sir said he, I had discovered the whole plan of the 
Summer's Campaign on the part of the British, and 
would have disclosed the whole to the Committee, 
by which Congress might have obviated all their 
Measures, for Mr Boudinot it is in vain for Con- 
gress to expect to withstand British Troops in the 
Field. — I answered that he must now be convinced 
that without his Information they had been with- 
stood and that the Campaign had passed over, and 
the Enemy had gained no great advantage with all 
their force and strength. But (I continued) Gen- 
eral will you answer me explicitely, did you inform 
General Howe that this was your design, he an- 
swered by no means. Then Genl. said I, do tell 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. T5 

me what reasons did you assign to Genl Howe for 
so extraordinary a Measure, as sending for three 
members of Congress to be permitted to enter a 
garrisoned town, and to confer with their own Gen- 
eral, a Prisoner of War. To this he would give 
no answer. But immediately began to urge the 
impossibility of our troops under such an Ignorant 
Commander in Chief, ever withstanding British 
Grenadiers & Light Infantry — And immediately 
put his hand into his Pocket & pulled out a manu- 
script of 2 or 3 sheets and said he charged it to 
me. to hearken to what he would read to me. and as 
soon as I returned to Jersey. That I would repair 
to Congress & not leave them, till I had prevailed 
upon them to adopt his Plan. He then read his 
manuscript, which was a laboured Argument to 
prove the impossibilty of making head agt the 
British Army, and that therefor we should set it 
down as certain, that in the next Campaign we must 
be compleatly defeated — He therefor urged, that 
congress would immediately have a strong fortress 
Built at Pittsburgh and also several hundred Boats, 
that they would order all the Riches of the Coun- 
try to be sent there with the Old Men. Women. & 
Children, and that when they found themselves 
driven there, that Congress &c &c might take Boat 
& go down the Ohio to the Spanish Territory, for 
Protection — The whole of this plan struck me in 
so absurd a light, added to the impropriety of read- 
ing such a thing to me who he knew was on my 



76 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

parole of honor, within an Enemys Lines, (for altho' 
it had not been formally regarded, yet I considered 
myself, more firmly bound, if Possible, than if it 
had been expressly given) that I could not but en- 
tertain the greatest Jealousy of the Integrity of 
Genl Lee — I answered without hesitation that I 
could not take any such message to Congress from 
him ; or any other, without the knowledge of the 
British Generals. — That I thought heliad been very 
wrong to attempt any such. Communication to me, 
knowing my Situation and that I should consider 
myself as having not heard it. — That I wondered 
at his prudence, in keeping such a writing in his 
pockett, as the Discovery of it in his Pockett & in 
his hand writing might cost him his life — He then, 
waived the Business & I left him. — I endeavoured 
to negotiate hiis exchange, and it was agreed (Hy- 
pothetically) that it should take place for Majoi- 
Genl Prescott. subject to Genl Howe's approbation 
Genl Howe objected, and ordered Genl Lee round 
by Sea to Philadelphia, that he might be exchanged 
under his own eye. — Genl Lee (abhoring the Sea) 
applied to me by letter & most earnestly requested 
that he might be permitted to go thro' ^ew Jersey, 
under the care of a British Officer, to which Genl 
Washington consented, and he accordingly went 
to Philadelphia, but no consent was obtained to 
the exchange — In the spring of 1778 a proposition 
was made by both parties for a partial Exchange 
of Prisoners, and I was ordered to Germantown to 



I'HE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. ^ 

meet the British Commissory. to attempt the busi- 
ness. When I was setting oft* from Camp, Genl 
Washington called me into his Koom, and in the 
most earnest manner intreated of me, if I wished 
to gratify him. that I woud obtain the Exchange of 
Genl Lee, for he never was more wanted by him. 
than at the present moment, and desired that 1 v 
would not suffer trifles to prevent it. I accordingly 
went, and made a pretty considerable Exchange of 
Prisoners, but quite new propositions were made 
for the Exchange of Genl Lee, which neither the 
General or myself had ever thought of, after reduc- 
ing the Terms to as favourable a Scale as I thought 
right, I agreed to it on Condition, that if General 
Washington was not pleased with the new plan, and 
I^otice was given of his refusal within 24 Hours. 
The Exchange was to be void, without any charge 
of Failure on my part. I arrived at head Quaters 
about 6 O'clock P. M. and going into the General 
began to tell him of my success — When he inter- 
rupted me with much Eagerness and asked me if I 
had exchanged Genl Lee, I informed him of what 
had been done ; he replied sit down at this Table, 
and write a letter informing of my Confirmation of 
the Exchange & send one of my Horse Guards 
immediately to the Enemies lines with it, I assured 
him that next day would be time enough, but he 
insisted on its being immediately done, and I sent 
him accordingly, fixing the next day but one for 
Genl Lee's coming out to us. — When the day 



78 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

arrived the greatest preparations were made for his 
reception all the principal Officers of the Army 
were drawn up in two lines, advanced of the Camp 
about 2 miles towards the Enemy. — Then the troops 
with the inferior Officers formed a line quite to head 
Quarters. All the Music of the Army attended. 
The General with a great number of principal 
Officers, and their Suites, rode about four miles on 
the road towards Philadelphia and waited till Genl 
Lee appeared. — Gen Washington dismounted & 
reed Gen Lee as if he had been his brother. — He 
passed thro' the lines of Officers & the Army, who 
all paid him the highest military Honors to Head 
Quarters, where Mrs Washington was. and there he 
was entertained with an Elegant Dinner, and the 
Music Playing the whole time. — A Room was as- 
signed him. Back of Mrs Washington's Sitting 
Room, and all his Baggage was stowed in it. The 
next morning he lay very late, and Breakfast was 
detained for him. When he came out. he looked 
as dirty as if he had been in the Street all night, 
soon after I discovered that he had brought a mis- 
erable dirty hussy with him from Philadelphia (a 
British Sergeants Wife) and had actually taken 
her into his Room by a Back Door and she had 
slept with him that night. 

Genl Washington gave him the command of the 
Right Wing of the Army, but before he took 
charge of it, he requested leave to go to Congress 
at York Town ; which was readily granted. Before 



THE BOTTDnsrOT JOURNAL. t9 

he went I had an interview with him. — He ex- 
pressed himself under the greatest obligations to 
me, and assured me that he never should forget 
my kindness. But wished exceedingly to know, 
if I had made his communication to Congress & 
what was their opinion of it, I assured him that I 
had not. and if he was wise he would say nothing 
upon the subject. He said he was going to Con- 
gress for that purpose and he never would not rest 
till it was done, and he was more than ever con- 
vinced that nothing else could save us, That he 
found the Army in a worse situation than he ex- 
pected and that General Washington was not fit 
to command a Sergeant's Guard. — This mortified 
me greatly, after all the kindness shown him by 
Genl Washington — My Jealousy of him was 
greatly confirmed, and I began to interrogate him 
about his reception at Philadelphia and immedi- 
ately brought about the question wether he had 
seen Genl Howe. He told me that he had been 
closeted by him the Evening but one, before he 
left the City I urged him to tell me the substance 
of the Conversation that passed between them, 
He told me that Genl Howe began to talk upon 
the Claim of Independence by the Americans. 
That he thought it one of the most absurd & hope- 
less expectations that could enter into the mind of 
sensible Men ; And as for you, Lee, says he. What 
in the Devil could get into you to be so crazy, who 
ought to know better. Lee answered that He 



>/ 



80 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

thought it a very wise measure and that if it had 
not been done, the Americans would have been 
without excuse. — The General replied ; why what 
end can it answer, do you think there is the most 
distant possibility of their succeeding, to which 
Genl Lee, replied.. They were perfectly right. In 
case of a Treaty what have they to give up., for 
what may they insist on receiving, had they made 
no claim to Independence. — O' Sir said the Gen- 
eral, if that is all they mean by it. it may be proper 
enough. — but I supposed they aimed at insisting on 
a separation from the Mother Country. — but in this 
View it may be well enough : and as he said they 
parted — But General Howe sent him a store of 
Wine, Spirit, Porter, &c &c to take out with him, 
but the British Soldiers finding out, that it was 
Stored in the Cellar of the House where he lodged ; 
broke into it the night before he came away, & 

stole the whole of it. All this increased my 

suspicions of Genl Lee exceedingly, and I watched 
him with a Jealous Eye. 

He went to Congress, and as I was afterwards 
informed, he applied to Congress for a committee 
to meet and confer with him. The President Mr 
Laurence was directed to this Service, to whom 
Genl Lee communicated his Plan, which disgusted 
Mr Laurence so greatly that he would not even 
report it to Congress. — This lessened the General 
so greatly in the Eyes of Congress, that they never 
paid much respect to him afterwards He 



THE BOUDIKOT JOURNAL. 81 

returned to the army and took command of the 
right wing — He immediately began to rebel agt 
Genl Washington & to quarrel with the Marquise 
La Fayette He assui'ed himself that Genl Wash- 
ington was ruining the whole cause, that he was J 
looking forward, to the British evacuating Phila- 
delphia & going to ^ew York, and of course 
strengthing his left., while the right was totally 
unguarded But Lee said that the Enemy would 
press over to Chester & come suddenly on their 
right wing and we should be wholly overthi-own. 
He said he urged this in council, but that he had 
been overruled & there fore was no lonofer account- 
able. — When the British Army actually passed 
thro' Jersey & Genl AYashington by his great pre- 
caution, had advanced two Brigades towards the 
Delaware, and therefor overtook the British at free- 
hold, Genl Lee was greatly mortified & at first re- 
fused to take the Command of the advanced Party 
& it was given to the Marquiss La Fayette. But on 
finding that the advanced Army was reinforced & 
raised to a very respectable Command, he insisted 
on the Command, and to keep peace it was given 
to him. 

Genl Lee accordingly came up with Genl Clin- 
ton near freehold Court House, and a skirmish took 
place. — Genl Lee had considerable Military Knowl- 
edge & did very well on a small scale, but I have 
no doubt that whenever any thing on a very large 
scale struck him. that a partial Lunacy took place. 



B2 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

His behaviour this morning discovered this 
state of mind, which might have been increased 
from the peculiarity of his situation and his ex- 
alted idea of the prowness of British Troops. — In 
the midst of the Engagement he rode up to a J A 
Coll of my Acquaintance who had a single field 
piece firing and called to him. " Coll have you 
seen anything improper in my Conduct this morn- 
ing ? The Coll (who had been convinced of some- 
thing wrong in the Genl all the Morning, yet not 
choosing to acknowledge it) answered, no bj^ no 
means. — well then said the General, do you re- 
member that. Such an Extraordinary question 
from a Commander in Chief of a division, under 
such Extraordinar}^ Circumstances, is full proof that 
he must have felt something unusual in himself. 

The issue was that he was beat, and had not 
Genl Washington have come up on a lucky mo- 
ment & turned the fortune of the Day, It might 
have been fatal to America. 



the boudikot jouris^al. 83 

The Taking of Major Andre. 



Major Andre, who was Adjutant General of the 
British Army., having entered into a correspond- 
ence with General Benedict Arnold, who then 
commanded the Important post of West Point on 
the JN^orth River, which Avas estimated as the key 
to the state of 'Naw York, and indeed all the upper 
country, in which great part of the ^ew England 
States were also greatly interested, soon ripend it 
into an actual communication for delivering up 
that Post to the British on Terms of personal 
emolument to Arnold. The fear of detection, led 
the American General to propose a personal meet- 
ing on the Shore of the ISTorth River at some dis- 
tance below West Point & without the out posts, 
that matters might be finally settled, and the 
Treason be compleated. — Andre being greatly 
elated with his success entered warmly into the 
measure, and Genl Clinton the Commander in 
Chief of the British Army, recieved the proposal 
with great Expectation, and immediately provided 
Andre (to whom he was much attached & had 
made him one of his particular confidents) with a 
20 Gun ship to go up the River as if to Command 
that part of the River. In the Evening the Ship 
came to Anchor, and after night (Andre) was landed 
privately on the main land ; where he met Arnold., 



y 



84 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

and spent some time in planning the whole business 
and recieving fom him returns of the Ameri- 
can Army., their dilierent intended positions, Pro- 
visions, force, Military Stores, &c &g. with the 
particulars of the intended proceedings, and as 
Genl Washington the American Commander in 
Chief, had a few days before, gone into Connecti- 
cut & was to return in a day or two & to dine with 
Arnold, it was added to the rest of this iniquitous 
business to fix upon that day for the nefarious 
Act. & to sieze General Washington at the same 
time. — The Joy that Andre felt on so glorious a 
prospect of establishing his fame, and aggrandiz- 
ing his Character and Fortune, delayed so long, 
that from the report of the Boats course he could 
not, with safety attempt to return on board the 
ship : Arnold prevailed upon him to go to a Mr 
Smith's a Gentn Farmer in the ]^[eighborhood. 
whom he could trust with the secret, and after 
changing his uniform for a plain suit of Cloathes. 
go with him to head quarters & pass for an Ameri- 
can of his acquaintance and in the morning go by 
land to I^ew York, for which he would give him a 
sufficient passport. To this Andre was very ad- 
verse, but being infatuated by his success as to 
loose the exercise of his natural good sense & pru- 
dence; or rather a kind & gracious Providence 
overruled this Avicked & infernal Treason, so as 
to spare the eifiision of human Blood. & produce 
the political Salvation of America — The next 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 85 

Morning. Andre & Arnold appeared together as 
old friends and such was their conduct in viewing 
the Works &c &c as to create some Jealousy in 
the Officers round the General., A Horse being 
furnished by the Quarter Master General. Andre 
set off. with the General's Passports to pass the 
out Lines, — It happened luckily for America, that 
both the Americans & English had along the lines. 
Parties denominated by the upper and lower. — 
Andre had passed the American out posts, and 
finding himself as he thought out of Danger, 
when in a deep reverie in the contemplation of his 
future Glory, he came to the cross Poads. One 
leading to Naw York, the other to Tarry Town, 
on the I^orth River. — It so providentially hap- 
j)ened. that the Horse on which he rode had been 
bred at Tarry Town, Andre lost in thought, did not 
attend either to his Horse or to the Road and the 
Horse natui ally took the Road he had been used 
to., and Andre soon found himself challenged by a 
Sentinel, He answered and demanded to know 
which party they belonged to. it was replyed the 
lower, — Takin<>: it for ^-ranted that it was the Brit- 
ish lower Party, knowing that he had passed the 
American Out Posts, neglected offering his Pass- 
port, but immediately said that he was a British 
Officer & desired to be taken into their Post. 
Three Militia Soldiers immediately surrounded 
him. and ordered him to dismount as they did not 
know that he was a British Officer. — He assured 



86 THE BOUDINOT JOUKIiTAL. 

them that he was ; and by taking him into their 
officer, they would know it to be true and he woukl 
reward them for it., on their doubting, he pulled 
out a gold Watch & said by that they might know 
he was not a Common Man. They then told hi in 
if that was the Case, he was their Prisoner for they 
were Americans, and therefore insisted on search- 
ins^ him. — Andre findiuo: himself in this disao^ree- 
able predicament, began to beg, and assuring them 
that he was only a Citizen of INTew York, who had 
important family business in the Country, had 
gone to finish it, and was returning. — That his 
capture could not be of service to them, but would 
be a great injury to him, and if they would release 
him he would engage to return them, safely deliv- 
ered in any private place on the lines they should 
name any reasonable Quantity of British Goods 
they should desire. — They answered : You a Brit- 
ish Officer & not a common man surely you could 
do more than this for your liberty, we are poor 
Militia Soldiers & you a great Officer — Andi-e then 
^ took out his Watch & offered that into the Bar- 
gain : They repeated that his liberty was worth 
more than a gold watch. & if he was a British 
Officer he could give more still. — He then pulled 
out a purse of gold. & oifered them both, — They 
then told him he must be a fool, do you not see 
that you. & your Watch & your money, are all in 
our power ; no we are Americans : and all that you 
are worth could not tempt us to release you; 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 87 

Therefore immediately submit to be searched. — 
accordingly he turned out his Pockets. — finding- 
nothing material, they ordered him to pull off his 
Boots. — He pulled oft' one. but said he would go 
no further & refused to pull oft' the other, on which 
they tripped up his heels, and on pulling off" his 
Boot, out came all his papers. — They immediately 
carried him into their Post and delivered him with all 
the Papers to their Officer Lt Coll Jameson. — This 
Conduct in these three Men, as Militia being gen- 
erally of low Character & not very famous for their 
strict attention to the Property of the Inhabitants 
on the Lines, certainly i)roved an exception to the 
general rule. 

The Officer was Thunder Struck on finding the 
Papers in the hand writing of General Arnold ; and 
that the Plan was to deliver up the Fort with General 
Washington while at dinner. Andre said his name 
was Anderson. Jameson's positive orders as Com- 
manding this out Post ; was to give instant ]N'otice 
to General Arnold, of every thing that should turn 
up of an extraordinary Mature and had light horse 
stationed with him for the purpose. AYhat to do 
at first, he did not know. — But calling a soldier he 
put much Confidence in, gave him a letter to Gen- 
eral Arnold, acquainting him with the outlines of 
the Capture of a Mr Anderson, going into 'New 
York, and set it off according to the letter of his 
orders ; but gave secret orders to the Soldier, to lame 
his Horse by the way. and to be detained by it, for 



^ 



88 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

24 Hours. He then sent another oif to ride Post 
& meet General Washington on his return from 
Connecticut, with the Papers found on Andre. 
The Horseman took the Road General Washington 
went, not knowing that he made it a rule never to 
go & return by the same road. By this means he 
missed the General, but heard of his return at a 
cross road and the Horseman sent to Arnold ar- 
rived at General Arnold's Quarters : a short time 
before General Washington, as soon as Arnold 
reed the letter he sprang out of his Room, Just 
looked into the Room where his wife was ; and told 
her that he must bid her farewell forever, and ran 
down to the fort., and got on board his barge, and 
ordered the Baro-emen to row him down the River 
— General Washington arrived soon after., and en- 
quiring at Arnold's Quarters for the General, was 
told that he had just gone to the Fort., General 
Washington rode immediately down, and being put 
over to the fort, he found that the General was not 
there, but the Officer of the Day, attended him 
round the Works. — Arnold not appearing General 
Washington expressed some resentment at his not 
attending him. and suddenly returned to his Horse, 
he was scarcely mounted, when the Horseman ap- 
peared with the Papers taken on Andre — As soon 
as he had read the letter. & cast his Eye over the 
Papers, he put spur to his Horse. & rode to Arnold's 
Door, and called out his Aid Du Camp, and draw- 
ing his Pistol from his holster, solemnly declared 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 89 

he would blow his brains out. if he did not instantly 
tell him where Arnold was. — The extreme fright 
of the Aid & his whole appearance convinced the 
General of his innocence, as he could tell him no 
more, than that on recieving a Horseman from an 
Outpost ; he had in great terror left the House & 
gone alone to the Fort. The General instantly 
ordered Coll Hamilton to ride post to the Fort, at 
Yerplank's Point opposite Stony Point, and order 
the Fort to fire on the Barge ; taking it for granted 
that he was gone down the River, Hamilton ar- 
rived just as the fort was paying the usual Compli- 
ment to the General's Barge. — Hamilton instantly 
pointed the Guns, and fired on the Bai-ge. Arnold 
rose and with a Pistol in each hand, swore he would 
put the first man to death who should stop his oar. 
and soon passed out of reach of the Fort. 

Andre was sent to Head Quarters and put under 
the Care of a subaltern Officer and a strong Guard 
— In the night Andre acknowledge to the Ofiiicer 
that he was Adjutant General of the British Army. 
That he found it in vain to cover himself with a 
fictitious name and, therefore, should appear in his 
real Character. The Officer was so alarmed, that 
he slept not a moment, but in the morning com- 
municated this Intelligence to Head Quarters. — Coll 
Hamilton, who had seen Andre was sent to him, 
and knew him to be the man — General Washington 
out of respect to his Chai'acter, instead of a more 
summary proceeding called a Council of General 



90 . THE BOUDINOT JOUEISrAL. 

Officers, of whom La Fayette & Steuben were two., 
who were to enquire into the facts & the Crime 
of the Prisoner. — Andre finding himself unexpect- 
edly treated with so much propriety & kindness, 
confessed every fact, and appeared only solicit- 
ous to free himself from any suspicion of being a 
Spy, or having voluntarily acted unbecoming his 
Character. — The Council found him guilty & that 
he was worthy of Death. His execution was de- 
termined on, and the day fixed. But on a letter 
from Genl Clinton, he was reprieved for a few 
days. — The ISTews of Andre's Capture greatly 
alarmed & aifected the Army, and Andre's fate 
was sincerely deplored, and some compassionate 
minds, were ready to wish for his pardon, But as 
soon as the reprieve was known ; and it was sugr 
gested by some discontented Persons that this re- 
prieve was prepatory to a pardon & Discharge ; but 
a universal alarm took place. — The Officers gener- 
idly declared that if they were not to be protected 
ags such traitorous Conduct ; it was time to leave 
the Army, That if they were to be exposed to ex- 
ternal Spys & internal machinations, and no punish- 
ment inllicted on them, who were taken and proved 
guilty, there would be no safety in the Camp and 
resignation was the only protection. — Tho these 
were their sentiments, they were only murmured 
from Tent to Tent. — a few days convinced them 
that they had a Commander in Chief who knew how 
to make his Compassion for the unfortunate & his 



THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 91 

duty to those who depended upon hun, for protec- 
tion to harmonize and Influence his Conduct. — He 
treated Major Andre with the greatest tenderness, 
while he carried the Sentence of the Council into 
strict Execution according to the laws of War — 
At JS^ew York when the first account of Andre's 
Capture & Condemnation arrived, the Ofiicers & 
Citizens laughed at the idea that the Kebels would 
dare to execute the Adjutant General of the British 
Army, but if it should take place, that Vengeance 
on every rebel should be taken seven fold. — But 
when it was known that Andre was no more, Gen- 
eral Clinton shut himself up for 8 days & every 
one at the Cofiee House & other Public Places, 
hung their heads, and scarcely an observation rela- 
tive to it, escaped their lips. — Arnold was made a 
Brigadier General, and tho' great Expectations 
were formed of his invitations to the American 
Soldiers & Citizens to Join him agt the Rebellion 
of their Country, it is generally believed that 
scarcely a soldier ever deserted or a Citizen Joined 
him. — He lived dispised & disregarded, and died 
unlamented & unnoticed — Thus having reed the 
general reward of a Traitor to his Country. 



..f 



92 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 



General Washington's Passage to New York 
FROM Elizabeth Town, with Committee oe 
Congress, when first chosen. Presid't of 
THE United States, 23rd April 1789. 



Extract of letter ■written back to 'Elizabeth Tozvn. 

If it was ill my power, I would wish to give you 
an adequate account of the proceedings of the Citi- 
zens of this metropoUs. on the approach, and at tlie 
reception of tlieir beloved Chief, when he arrived 
here yesterday. — I cannot do it Justice, and there- 
fore should not attempt it. had I not so much vanity 
as to think you will be in some measure gratified, 
by its coining thro this chance however imperfect. 

You must have observed, with what a propitious 
Gale, we left my beloved shore and glided with 
steady Motion across ISTew Ark Bay. the waters 
seeming to rejoice in bearing so precious a burthen 
over its placid Bosom — the distant appearance of 
the Troops. The Militia in Uniform we had left be- 
hind and their regular firings, added much to our 
pleasure. When we drew near to the mouth of 
the Kills, a number of Boats with a great variety 
of superb Flags came up to us. and dropped in 



THE BOUDINOT JOURISTAL. 93 

our wake — Soon after we opened the Bay., General 
Knox and several Gentn of distinction in a large 
Barge presented themselves with splendid Colors, 
Boat after Boat & Sloop after Sloop added to our 
little fleet gaily dressed with every naval Armament 
— we began to mak a most elegant appearance. 
Before we got to Bedlars Island a large Sloop, 
came, with full sail on our Starboard Bow, when 
about 20 Gentn & Ladies rose up. and with excel- 
lent & melodious Voices sung an Elofjuent Ode 
appropriate to the occasion. & set to the Music of 
" God save the King," welcoming their Great 
Chief to the Seat of Government. At the conclu- 
sion we gave them our Hats, and then they with 
the surrounding Boats., gave three Hurra's which 
made the neighboring shores rebound with the Joy- 
ful acclamation Soon after another Boat came under 
our Stern and threw in amongst us a number of 
Copies of another Ode. and immediately about a 
dozen Gentn began to sing it in parts as we passed \ 

along. Our Worthy President was greatly affected 
with these tokens of profound respect & gratitude. 
As we approached the Harbour Our Train in- 
creased and the Hurraing & Shouts of Joy added 
great vivacity to this lively scene. At this moment 
a shoal of porpoises came rising above the water & 
playing among the Boats, as if desirous to know 
the Cause of all this Joy & Gladness. — AVe now 
discovered the Shores crowded with thousands of 
People. Men Women & Children. Kay I may. 



94 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 

venture to say. Tens of Thousands, from the Battery 
to the place of Landmg Altho nearly half a Mile 
you could see little else along the Wharves in the 
Streets, and on board the Vessels, but heads as 
numerous as Ears of Corn before the Harvest. The 
Vessels in the Harbour presented a most superb 
appearance draped in all the pomp of national Gaity 
& Elegance A Spanish Packett. then lying in the 
Harbour in a Moment on a signal given hoisted 27 
or 28 diiferent Colors of All ^N^ations on every part 
of the Rigging and paid a compliment of 13 Guns 
with all her Yards maned. as did another Vessel in 
the Harbour displaying colors in like manner. 
Prom the Battery we had the like compliment of 
18 Pounders. 

We soon arrived at the Ferry Stairs in Wall 
Street where many thousands of the Citizens and a 
chosen detachment of the Militia in Elegant Uni- 
form, waiting with all eagerness of Expectation, 
welcomed this most excellent man. to that Shore, 
which he had by his Judgment, & Courageous per- 
severance regained from a powerful Enemy almost 
against Hope. We found the Stairs Covered with 
Carpeting, and the rails from the Water to the top 
of the warf hung with ci'imson hangings. The 
president being preceeded by the committee, was 
received by the Govenor and the principal Citizens 
in the most brilliant and affectionate manner, he 
was met on the warf by many of his old and faith- 
ful companions and fellow patriots who had with 



THE BOUDINOT JOURN^AL. 95 

him borne the heat & burthen of the day, and 
who like him had experienced every reverse of 
fortune with fortitude and patience & who now 
Joined the universal chorus of welcome to the 
Grroat deliverer (under providence) from all their 
fears, It was with difficulty a passage could be 
made by the troops through the pressing crowd, 
who seemed incapable of being satisfied in gazing 
at this man of the people, You will see the par- 
ticulars of the procession from the wharf to the 
honse appointed for the presidents residence in the 
newspaper, The streets were lined Avith inhabitants 
as close as they could stand together, and it 
required all the exertions of a numerous train of 
City officers with their staves to make a passage for 
the procession. The houses were filled with Gents 
& Ladies elegantly dressed, and the whole distance 
being about half a mile & the windows to the high- 
est stories were illuminated by the Sparkling eyes 
of innumerable companies of Ladies who seemed 
to vie with each other to show the Joy on this great 
occasion It was full half an hour before we could 
finish our commission, by introducing our Charge 
into the house prepared by order of Congress for 
his reception as soon as this was done, not with- 
standing the presidents great fatigue both of body 
& mind, he had to receive the Gentlemen of Con- 
gress, & the City, the Officers of the Army and 
Militia, forming a very numerous body, all of whom 
were eagerly desirous to show their respect in the 



96 THE BOLTDINOT JOURNAL. 

most affectionate manner, This duty he ])erformed 
with great ease and that friendly and obHging 
demeanor he was so famous for — When this was 
finished and the people dispersed we went undressed, 
and dined with his excellency Gov. Clinton who 
had provided an elegant dinner for the purpose — 
thus ended our Commission — The evening though 
very wet (having rained to-wards night) was sj^ent 
by all ranks in visiting from street to street, the 
whole City being illuminated in a very pleasing 
manner — I cannot help taking notice how highly 
we were favored in the providential disposition of 
the weather, the whole procession being completely 
finished, and we had repaired to the Governours 

before the Gust arose -When the president was 

on the wharf, an officer came up politely addressing 
him, said he had the honor and peculiar felicity of 
commanding his Guard, and was ready to obey his 
orders The president much affected answered, 
that as to any present arrangement he desired that 
it might be carried into execution agreable to 
orders but afterwards he hoped the officer Avould 
give himself no further trouble, as the aftections of 
his fellow Citizens (turning to the thousands around 
him) were all the Guard he wanted. 

The General was conveyed from Elizabeth town 
in an elegant barge built for the purpose and rowed 
by 12 old Captains of Vessels who had retired 
from business, and now had become reputable and 
wealthy Citizens of JSTew York. They were dressed 



THE BOUDINOT JOUKXAL. 



97 



in White shirts adorned with ribbons The Com- 
mittee was on the barge with the General and his 
suite. 

The Committee were 



Of the Senate 



Mr Lajstgdon 

Mr 

Mr 



Mr Boudin^ot 
Mr Blaj^d 
House of Representatives \ Mr Tucker 

I Mr Benson^ 
[ Mr Laurence 



Troops furnished by each state during the Revo- 
lutionary War, 1776 to 1784. 



State. 

New Hampshire 
Massachusetts 
Connecticut . 
Rhode Island 
New York . 
New Jersey . 
Pennsylvania 
Delaware 
North Carolina 
South Carolina 
Georgia . . 
Virginia . 
Maryland 



Population 


Troops Fur- 




1782. 


nished 


Proporti 


100,000 


14,000 


i-7th 


390,000 


83,000 


i-5th 


208,000 


40,000 


i-5th 


50,000 


10,000 


i-5th 


236,000 


21,000 


i-iith 


140.000 


17,000 


I -8th 


380,000 


32,000 


I-I2th 


250,000 


7,000 


l-33d 


100,000 


6,000 


i-i6th 


70,000 


2,600 


l-25th 



1,918,000 



232,600 Averages i-8th 



FINIS. 



Wl^ 



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